Do schistosoma japonicum soluble egg antigens attenuate invasion in a first trimester human placental trophoblast model?
Soluble egg antigens found in circulation during schistosome infection increase pro-inflammatory cytokine production and inhibit the mobility and invasive characteristics of the first trimester HTR8/SVneo trophoblast cell line. This is the first study to assess the impact of schistosome soluble egg antigens on the behavior of an extravillous trophoblast model and suggests that schistosomiasis in the pre-pregnancy period may adversely impact placentation and the subsequent health of the mother and newborn.
In diabetic Ren-2 rats the development of diabetic nephropathy was associated with tubular hypoxia. Co-localization of osteopontin with hypoxic cells suggests that tubular hypoxia may be involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. The degree of hypoxia and fibrosis was attenuated by treatment with perindopril.