Alpha-2-macroglobulin from circulating exosome-like vesicles is increased in women with preterm pregnancies

Sci Rep. 2020 Oct 12;10(1):16961. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-73772-z.

Abstract

Preterm labor (PTL) and Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) impose substantial morbimortality on mothers and newborns. Exosomes act in intercellular communication carrying molecules involved in physiopathological processes. Little is known about exosomal proteins in prematurity. Our aim was to evaluate the protein expression of hemopexin, C1 inhibitor (C1INH) and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M) from circulating exosomes of women with PTL and PPROM. Plasma was obtained from PTL, PPROM, Term in labor and Term out of labor (T) patients, exosomes were isolated by ultracentrifugation, then lysed and the proteins quantified. Western Blot (WB) and Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) were performed. Data were compared by Kruskal-Wallis, unpaired T-test and one-way ANOVA. WB and NTA confirmed exosome isolation (concentration: 4.3 × 1010 particles/ml ± 1.9 × 1010). There was no difference regarding hemopexin or C1INH expression between the groups. For A2M, the fold change was significantly higher on preterm groups when compared to term groups (1.07 ± 0.30 vs. 0.42 ± 0.17, p < 0.0001). Higher levels of A2M in circulating exosomes are linked to preterm pregnancies. sEV are strong candidates to intermediate maternal-fetal communication, carrying preterm labor-related immunomodulatory proteins.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein / metabolism
  • Exosomes / metabolism*
  • Female
  • Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture / blood
  • Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture / immunology*
  • Fetal Membranes, Premature Rupture / metabolism*
  • Hemopexin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange / immunology
  • Maternal-Fetal Exchange / physiology
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature / blood
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature / immunology*
  • Obstetric Labor, Premature / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy-Associated alpha 2-Macroglobulins / metabolism*
  • Pregnant Women*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Complement C1 Inhibitor Protein
  • Pregnancy-Associated alpha 2-Macroglobulins
  • SERPING1 protein, human
  • Hemopexin

Supplementary concepts

  • Preterm Premature Rupture of the Membranes