Chagas disease affects the human placental barrier's turnover dynamics during pregnancy

Autor: Luciana Mezzano, Joana Paola Morán, María José Moreira-Espinoza, María Fernanda Triquell, Julieta Mezzano, Cintia María Díaz-Luján, Ricardo Emilio Fretes
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Memórias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Volume: 117, Article number: e210304, Published: 27 JUN 2022
ISSN: 1678-8060
Popis: BACKGROUND Trypanosoma cruzi crosses the placental barrier and produces the congenital transmission of Chagas disease (CD). Structural alterations of the chorionic villi by this parasite have been described in vitro, but little is known about trophoblast turnover in placentas from women with CD. OBJECTIVE To analyze the proliferation and fusion processes in placentas from women with CD. METHODS Archived human term placenta paraffin-embedded blocks were used, from women with CD (CDP), and no pathology (NP). Immunohistochemistry tests were performed for Ki67 to calculate the proliferation index (PI) of cytotrophoblast (CTB) and Syncytin-1, a fusion marker of syncytiotrophoblast (STB). Hematoxylin/Eosin stained sections were employed to analyze STB percentages, STB detachment areas and syncytial knots quantity. Non parametric Student’s t-tests were performed (p < 0.05). RESULTS Syncytial knots and STB detachment significantly increased in placental villi from the CDP group. STB percentage was significantly lower in the CDP group as well as the PI and Syncytin-1 expression significantly decreased in these placentas, compared with control (NP). CONCLUSION Dynamic of trophoblast turnover is altered in placentas from women with CD. These changes may lead into a gap in the placental barrier possibly allowing the parasite entry into the chorionic villi.
Databáze: OpenAIRE