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Vitamin D Effects on the Immune System from Periconception through Pregnancy.
Schröder-Heurich, B, Springer, CJP, von Versen-Höynck, F
Nutrients. 2020;(5)
Abstract
Vitamin D is a well-known secosteroid and guardian of bone health and calcium homeostasis. Studies on its role in immunomodulatory functions have expanded its field in recent years. In addition to its impact on human physiology, vitamin D influences the differentiation and proliferation of immune system modulators, interleukin expression and antimicrobial responses. Furthermore, it has been shown that vitamin D is synthesized in female reproductive tissues and, by modulating the immune system, affects the periconception period and reproductive outcomes. B cells, T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells can all synthesize active vitamin D and are involved in processes which occur from fertilization, implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. Components of vitamin D synthesis are expressed in the ovary, decidua, endometrium and placenta. An inadequate vitamin D level has been associated with recurrent implantation failure and pregnancy loss and is associated with pregnancy-related disorders like preeclampsia. This paper reviews the most important data on immunomodulatory vitamin D effects in relation to the immune system from periconception to pregnancy and provides an insight into the possible consequences of vitamin D deficiency before and during pregnancy.
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2.
The impact of probiotic supplementation on metabolic health in healthy women of reproductive age: a systematic review.
Byrne, DF, Geraghty, AA, Yelverton, CA, Murphy, EF, Van Sinderen, D, Cotter, PD, McAuliffe, FM
Food & function. 2020;(12):10279-10289
Abstract
Products containing probiotics are targeted at healthy or at-risk individuals as a preventative measure to minimise disease risk. Most studies assessing the efficacy of probiotics in humans include a mixture of healthy and unhealthy populations, while studies that focus solely on female populations are largely limited to pregnancy or those with health conditions. Pre-conception is a significant time-point during the life-course, and improving female health status during this period may positively influence future offspring. The objective of this review is to assess the effect of probiotics administered in oral capsule formulation, on metabolic and immune markers in healthy, non-pregnant women of reproductive age. This review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Pubmed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science were searched for relevant studies. English language articles relating to randomised-controlled trials were included. The search returned 3250 publications after duplicates were removed. Title (2516), abstract (642), and full text (87) screening excluded 3993 studies from consideration. Five papers were identified with outcomes of interest, and analysis of these showed no conclusive evidence that probiotic capsule supplementation elicited positive effects in this healthy population. This study highlights the need for further research to investigate the role that probiotics play during the pre-conception period, on female metabolic and immune health.
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3.
Evolutionary determinants of polycystic ovary syndrome: part 2.
Fessler, DMT, Natterson-Horowitz, B, Azziz, R
Fertility and sterility. 2016;(1):42-47
Abstract
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a prehistoric complex genetic trait, perhaps dating back at least 50,000 years. The disorder also represents an evolutionary paradox, demonstrating clear reproductive disadvantages (i.e., lack of evolutionary fitness), albeit persisting tens of thousands of years. Here we examine possible explanations for this paradox. We evaluate a variety of possible benefits accruing to women in ancestral populations who possessed this trait, including considerations of whether dramatic changes in environment and lifestyle from the ancestral past to the contemporary present have altered the selection dynamics operating on the trait. Putative benefits include metabolic functioning, immune system dynamics, patterns of child-rearing and mothering, reproductive longevity, in utero or childhood survival, and musculoskeletal advantages. However, there is limited evidence that the persistence and relative homogeneity in the prevalence of PCOS can be accounted for by direct positive selection. Rather, PCOS evolution has likely been driven by nonadaptive evolutionary mechanisms, including genetic drift due to a serial founder effect and population balance due to sexually antagonistic selection. Ultimately, insights into the evolutionary origins of PCOS will emerge through the study not only of unique characteristics of affected individuals and their environments butalso through a broad consideration of the potential adaptive and beneficial aspects of vulnerability to the disorder, importantly including examination of populations whose fertility, disease load, and diet resemble those of ancestral humans.
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4.
Vitamin D and male reproductive system.
Costanzo, PR, Knoblovits, P
Hormone molecular biology and clinical investigation. 2016;(3):151-159
Abstract
Vitamin D deficiency is a highly prevalent worldwide condition and affects people of all ages. The most important role of vitamin D is the regulation of intestinal calcium absorption and metabolism of calcium and phosphorus to maintain muscle and bone homeostasis. Furthermore, in recent years it has been discovered that the vitamin D receptor (VDR) is widely distributed in many organs and tissues where vitamin D can perform other actions that include the modulation of the immune response, insulin secretion, anti-proliferative effect on cells of vascular smooth muscle, modulation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and regulates cell growth in several organs. The VDR is widely distributed in the male reproductive system. Vitamin D induces changes in the spermatozoa's calcium and cholesterol content and in protein phosphorylation to tyrosine/threonine residues. These changes could be involved in sperm capacitation. Vitamin D seems to regulate aromatase expression in different tissues. Studies analyzing seasonal variations of sex steroids in male populations yield conflicting results. This is probably due to the wide heterogeneity of the populations included according to age, systemic diseases and obesity.
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5.
Tribbles role in reproduction.
Basatvat, S, Carter, DA, Kiss-Toth, E, Fazeli, A
Biochemical Society transactions. 2015;(5):1116-21
Abstract
Tribbles (TRIB) proteins, a family of evolutionary conserved psuedokinase proteins, modulate various signalling pathways within the cell. The regulatory roles of TRIB make them an important part of a number of biological processes ranging from cell proliferation to metabolism, immunity, inflammation and carcinogenesis. Innate immune system plays a pivotal role during the regulation of reproductive processes that allows successful creation of an offspring. Its involvement initiates from fertilization of the oocyte by spermatozoon and lasts throughout early embryonic development, pregnancy and labour. Therefore, there is a close cooperation between the reproductive system and the innate immune system. Evidence from our lab has demonstrated that improper activation of the innate immune system can reduce embryo implantation, thus leading to infertility. Therefore, control mechanisms regulating the innate immune system function can be critical for successful reproductive events.
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6.
Dendritic cells: elegant arbiters in human reproduction.
Segerer, SE, Staib, C, Kaemmerer, U, Frambach, T, Honig, A, Dietl, J, Rieger, L
Current pharmaceutical biotechnology. 2012;(8):1378-84
Abstract
The female reproductive tract represents a great challenge to the residing immune cells: Concomitantly, those immune-competent cells have to provide tolerogenic mechanisms favoring the development of a successful pregnancy while permitting protection against harmful pathogens. The predominant cell population facing this "double edged" regulatory capacity within the reproductive tract is that of dendritic cells (DC). There is evidence that DC represent a highly adaptive cell type, which can either be transformed in an immune-stimulatory phenotype after exposure to inflammatory or infectious signals, or in an immune inhibitory phenotype preventing T cell activation when located in an adequate antiinflammatory microenvironment. Thus, this review highlights this two-faced character of DC focusing on their morphology and function within the human reproductive tract and especially during pregnancy.
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7.
The role of oxidative stress in spontaneous abortion and recurrent pregnancy loss: a systematic review.
Gupta, S, Agarwal, A, Banerjee, J, Alvarez, JG
Obstetrical & gynecological survey. 2007;(5):335-47; quiz 353-4
Abstract
UNLABELLED Human reproduction is not considered a highly efficient biological process. Before the end of the first trimester, 30%-50% of conceptions end in spontaneous abortion. Most losses occur at the time of implantation. 15%-20% of clinical pregnancies end in spontaneous abortions. Recurrent pregnancy loss is a frustrating clinical problem both for clinicians and patients. Recurrent pregnancy loss affects 0.5%-3% of women in the reproductive age group, and between 50%-60% of recurrent pregnancy losses are idiopathic. Oxidative stress-induced damage has been hypothesized to play a role in spontaneous abortion, idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss, hydatidiform mole, defective embryogenesis, and drug-induced teratogenicity. Some studies implicate systemic and placental oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of abortion and recurrent pregnancy loss. Oxidant-induced endothelial damage, impaired placental vascularization and immune malfunction have all been proposed to play a role in the pathophysiology of idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss. Oxidative stress-induced placental dysfunction may be a common cause of the multifactorial and polygenic etiologies of abortion, recurrent pregnancy loss, defective embryogenesis, hydatidiform mole, and drug-induced teratogenic effects. Oxidative stress-induced modification of phospholipids has been linked to the formation of antiphospholipid antibodies in the antiphospholipid syndrome. The objective of this review was to examine the association between oxidative stress, spontaneous abortion and recurrent pregnancy loss, based on the published literature. We conducted an extensive literature search utilizing the databases of Medline, CINAHL, and Cochrane from 1986 to 2005. The following keywords were used: oxidative stress, abortion, recurrent pregnancy loss, reactive oxygen species, antioxidants, fetal development, and embryopathies. We conducted an electronic search, as well as a manual search of cross-references. We have included all studies in the English language found in the literature focusing on oxidative stress and its association with abortions, recurrent pregnancy loss and drug-induced teratogenicity. The role of antioxidant vitamins for primary prevention of oxidative stress-induced pathologies needs to be investigated further. TARGET AUDIENCE Obstetricians & Gynecologists, Family Physicians. LEARNING OBJECTIVES After completion of this article, the reader should be able to state that the causes of spontaneous and recurrent abortion are multifaceted, however, some of the causes may be preventable and also explain that the role of oxidative stress during pregnancy and adverse pregnancy outcomes has a basis in pathophysiology, although the role of oxidative stress and the treatment of oxidative stress during or before pregnancy remains speculative.