Maternal-fetal interface: profile of placental microRNAs and maternal and newborn serum exosomes in HIV-1 infection

• Grant number: 22/06074-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: September 01, 2023
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Immunology - Applied Immunology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Notomi Sato
• Grantee: Emanuella Sarmento Alho de Sousa
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 19/25119-7 - Maternal-fetal interface: immunopathogenesis and vaccinal intervention in viral infections, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/13203-1 - Antibodies repertoire profile of HIV-infected pregnant women and newborns using the VirScan PhIP-Seq technique, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

HIV infection during pregnancy can occur via intrauterine, intrapartum, and breastfeeding. To startthe antiretroviral therapy, occurred a significant reduction of viral vertical transmission. However, this increases the condition of exposed uninfected children. These children show immune dysfunctions especially in the first years of life. Considering the maternal-fetal imprint, epigenetic changes can influence the neonate's immune response. Among the epigenetic factors, microRNAs (miRs) are involved in a wide range of biological processes and open the expectation for the understanding of maternal-fetal interactions, mainly those able of regulating the inflammation and/or inducing antiviral response. Therefore, the proposal of this study is to evaluate the profile of miRs in the placental site of HIV-infected mother and identify the miRs in exosomes of maternal plasma and umbilical cord (newborns). Sequencing of miRs will be performed in placentas of HIV-1 infected and controls. The miRs with potential to regulate the inflammatory and antiviral response will be selected; and analyzed for miRNA-mRNA expression as well as target protein expression in placentas of HIV-1 infected mothers. In addition, the presence of miRs in maternal plasma and umbilical cord exosomes will be analyzed. The selected miRs candidates will be validated in an in vitro system in umbilical cord mononuclear cells. The results obtained in this project will contribute to a better understanding of the regulation of the maternal-fetal interface in HIV-1 infection. (AU)