Objective To investigate whether elevated IFN-α early in pregnancy is associated with poor pregnancy outcomes and examine its relationship to angiogenic imbalance. Methods Women were enrolled in a case-control longitudinal study of lupus pregnancies. Serum samples obtained monthly through pregnancy were assayed for IFN-α and for antiangiogenic factor, sFlt1, and proangiogenic factor, (PlGF). Each of 28 SLE patients with poor pregnancy outcome was matched to an SLE patient with an uncomplicated pregnancy and to a pregnant healthy control. The effects of IFN-α and/or sFlt1 on-human endothelial cells and endothelial-trophoblast interactions was assessed. Results Compared to SLE patients with uncomplicated pregnancies, patients with preeclampsia had increased IFN-α before clinical symptoms. Non-autoimmune patients destined for preeclampsia did not have increased IFN-α. In SLE patients with low IFN-α, marked angiogenic imbalance (higher sFlt1, lower PlGF and higher sFlt1/PlGF ratios) precedes maternal manifestations of preeclampsia, whereas in SLE with high IFN-α, preeclampsia occurs without evidence of systemic angiogenic imbalance. Treatment of human endothelial cells with sFlt1 induced expression of sFlt1 mRNA, and IFN-α dramatically amplified responses to sFlt1. In a model of spiral artery transformation, only IFN-α and sFlt1 together disrupted the ability of trophoblast cells to remodel endothelial tube structures. Conclusions Our studies identify a new mechanism by which IFN-α induces an antiangiogenic milieu, increases the sensitivity of endothelial cells to sFlt1, and suggest that elevated IFN-α may contribute to pathogenesis of preeclampsia in some SLE pregnancies.

Objective. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) interfere with several physiologic functions of human trophoblasts, including reducing their ability to migrate, decreasing their production of angiogenic factors, and inducing an inflammatory response. This may provide the underlying mechanism by which aPL responses lead to recurrent pregnancy loss or preeclampsia in women with obstetric antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Although treatment with heparin may reduce the rate of recurrent pregnancy loss, the risk of preeclampsia remains high. Therefore, alternative treatments are needed for the management of pregnant patients with APS. Since aspirin-triggered lipoxins (ATLs) have immune and angiogenic modulatory properties, the objective of this study was to determine the effects of the ATL 15-epi-lipoxin A 4 on the function of aPL-altered human trophoblasts in the first trimester of pregnancy.Methods. A first-trimester human trophoblast cell line (HTR8) was treated with mouse anti-human ␤ 2 -glycoprotein I monoclonal antibodies (aPL) in the presence or absence of the ATL 15-epi-lipoxin A 4 . Trophoblast migration and interactions with endometrial endothelial cells were measured using Transwell and coculture assays. Trophoblast secretion of cytokines and angiogenic factors was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results. Treatment of HTR8 cells with ATL reversed the aPL-induced decrease in trophoblast migration, an effect that appeared to be regulated through restoration of interleukin-6 production. Using a model of spiral artery transformation, aPL and sera from APS patients with pregnancy morbidity disrupted trophoblast-endothelial cell interactions, and treatment with ATL restored the stability of the cocultures. In contrast, ATL treatment did not resolve the proinflammatory and antiangiogenic responses of trophoblasts induced by aPL.Conclusion. These findings indicate that ATLs may have some benefits in terms of preventing the effects of aPL on trophoblast function, which raises the possibility of the use of ATLs as an adjuvant therapy in women with aPL.

In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α on the proliferation and commitment phases of myoblast differentiation. C2C12 mouse myoblast cells were cultured to reach a proliferated or committed status and were incubated with these cytokines for the evaluation of cell proliferation, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression, release of prostaglandins (PGs) and myokines, and activation of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs). We found that inhibition of the IL-6 receptor reduced IL-1β- and TNF-α-induced cell proliferation, and that the IL-1β effect also involved COX-2-derived PGs. Both cytokines modulated the release of the myokines myostatin, irisin, osteonectin, and IL-15. TNF-α and IL-6 reduced the activity of Pax7 in proliferated cells and reduced MyoD and myogenin activity at both proliferative and commitment stages. Otherwise, IL-1β increased myogenin activity only in committed cells. Our data reveal a key role of IL-6 and COX-2-derived PGs in IL-1β and TNF-α-induced myoblast proliferation and support the link between TNF-α and IL-6 and the activation of MRFs. We concluded that IL-1β and TNF-α induce similar effects at the initial stages of muscle regeneration but found critical differences between their effects with the progression of the process, bringing new insights into inflammatory signalling in skeletal muscle regeneration.

Some drugs used to prevent aPL-induced PM modulated the alteration of trophoblast function.