Cytokines and pregnancy: Potential regulation by histone deacetylases

• Published in: Molecular reproduction and development Vol. 88; no. 5; pp. 321 - 337
• Main Authors: Munro, Sheryl K., Balakrishnan, Biju, Lissaman, Abbey C., Gujral, Palak, Ponnampalam, Anna P.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2021
• Subjects: Acetylation; Animals; Cytokines; Cytokines - physiology; Deacetylation; Diabetes mellitus; Eclampsia; Epigenetics; Female; histone acetylation; Histone Code; histone deacetylases; Histone Deacetylases - physiology; Histones; Histones - metabolism; Humans; Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit - physiology; Inflammation; Interleukin-10 - physiology; Labor Onset - physiology; Mice; NF-kappa B - metabolism; Parturition; Pregnancy; Pregnancy - genetics; Pregnancy - physiology; Pregnancy, Animal - physiology; Protein Processing, Post-Translational; Transcription factors; histone deacetylases; cytokines; histone acetylation; pregnancy
• ISSN: 1040-452X; 1098-2795; 1098-2795
• DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23430

Cytokines are important regulators of pregnancy and parturition. Aberrant expression of proinflammatory cytokines during pregnancy contributes towards preterm labor, pre‐eclampsia, and gestational diabetes mellitus. The regulation of cytokine expression in human cells is highly complex, involving interactions between environment, transcription factors, and feedback mechanisms. Recent developments in epigenetic research have made tremendous advancements in exploring histone modifications as a key epigenetic regulator of cytokine expression and the effect of their signaling molecules on various organ systems in the human body. Histone acetylation and subsequent deacetylation by histone deacetylases (HDACs) are major epigenetic regulators of protein expression in the human body. The expression of various proinflammatory cytokines, their role in normal and abnormal pregnancy, and their epigenetic regulation via HDACs will be discussed in this review. The influence of cytokines and its epigenetic regulation mediated through histone deacetylase in human pregnancy and parturition are the main subjects for discussion in this review.