Evaluating the mechanisms of cell free fetal DNA signaling in the promotion of labor

Ended Project Grant Awarded Last action

Award ID
F31HD112161
Recipient
Awarding agency
Obligated
$139,446

Award facts

Completion date
Place of performance
Minnesota, USA

Award details come from USAspending.gov.

Description

Abstract
Parturition is a highly inflammatory event characterized by an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, maternal leukocyte activation, and cellular infiltration into the uterus. However, untimely inflammatory triggers may shift the maternal immune system towards the transition to labor early, such as in cases of preterm birth (PTB). Currently, the mechanisms involved in the switch to a pro-inflammatory state and parturition initiation is largely unknown. Evidence supports circulating damage-associated molecular patterns (damps) in the maternal blood, such as cell-free fetal DNA (cffdna), may trigger sterile inflammation and labor through activation of maternal innate immune cells. Cffdna is continuously released from the placenta into the maternal bloodstream with concentrations steadily increasing as pregnancy progresses, becoming undetectable hours after parturition. Importantly, cffdna is abnormally elevated in pathological pregnancies, including PTB. The enninga lab showed cffdna, but not cell-free DNA (cfdna), can activate maternal monocytes through cgas/sting to initiate hallmark processes of parturition; however, the mechanism of cffdna activation or why IT is a potent immunostimulatory molecule remains incompletely understood. This F31 proposal seeks to evaluate whether inhibiting the cgas/sting pathway can reduce CD14+ monocyte activation and the pro-inflammatory cascade following cffdna recognition (aim 1) and identify the immunostimulatory properties of cffdna specific sequence motifs (aim 2). Completion of these studies will provide better understanding of the immunological processes driving labor at term. Additionally, IT may provide a novel small molecule target that could be tested clinically for dampening systemic maternal immune activation, which would be especially important for PTB prevention. This award will provide raini sorenson with individualized, mentored training from excellent faculty sponsors while working on dissertation research in immunology. Furthermore, this training award will facilitate raini's development into a strong applicant for a competitive post-doctoral position.

Transactions

Action Obligated Date
Amendment $0
Amendment -$3,636
Amendment $47,694
Amendment $47,694
Amendment $0
Amendment $0
Original award $47,694

Quick answers

Who received award F31HD112161?

F31HD112161 was awarded to Mayo Clinic by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (National Institutes of Health) on August 29, 2024.

How much is award F31HD112161 worth?

$139,446 has been obligated on F31HD112161.

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