Workshops (4 x 3 workshops of 2h)
1. Immunology of placentation
Massimo Locati (Italy)
Surendra Sharma (USA)
2. Galectins, chemokines and trophoblast invasion
Elah Pick-Golan (Israel)
Hamutal Meiri (Israel)
Harvey Kliman (USA)
3. Signalling in implantation & invasion
Asgi Fazleabas (USA)
Claire Roberts (Australia)
4. Trophoblast: Markers to identify subpopulations
Graham Burton (UK)
Larry Chamley (New Zealand)
5. Clinical correlates of placental pathologies
Mark Turner (UK)
Sarah Keating (Canada)
Judith Bulmer (UK)
6. Toxicology testing using the human placenta for evaluation of human health risk
Kathleen Shiverick (USA)
Richard K. Miller (USA)
7. How to quantify placental structure using stereology
Terry Mayhew (UK)
Tahera Ansari (UK)
8. Placental transport of fatty acids: mechanisms and clinical implications
Thomas Jansson (USA)
Gernot Desoye (Austria)
9. Human placental (mesenchymal) stem cells
Dirk Strunk (Austria)
Gottfried Dohr (Austria)
10. Different species with different placental solutions for fetal development and survival
Vibeke Dantzer (Denmark)
Christiane Pfarrer (Germany)
11. Trophoblast neoplasia
Paul Bischof (Switzerland)
Mike Nelson (USA)
12. Trophoblast: Regulation of differentiation
Ian Crocker (UK)
Sascha Drewlo (Canada)
Workshop 1
Immunology of Placentation
Organizers:
Surendra Sharma (Providence, USA) ssharma@wihri.org
Massimo Locati (Milan, Italy) massimo.locati@unimi.it
Aim:
It is increasingly clear that the immunity, placenta and hormones play a pivotal role in orchestrating in utero embryonic development. Thus, we will explore the temporal and regulatory role of uterine immune cells and cytokines/chemokines at the maternal-fetal interface.
Objectives:
- To present evidence that uterine immune cells play a major role in orchestrating a normal or an abnormal pregnancy outcome.
- To assess the role of mouse models to study the in utero role of cytokines, immune cells, and hormones in compromised pregnancies.
- To understand the coupling between angiogenesis and non-cytotoxic nature of uterine immune cells.
- To delineate the mechanisms and biomarkers which are associated with clinical implications.
Focus:
The focus will be on cutting edge themes on immune cells and their interactions with trophoblasts with a focus on the mechanisms that underlie the pregnancy compatible functions.
Structure:
The workshop will have short presentations with ample participation by the audience. There are likely to be 5 speakers including the moderators. Our hope is that this workshop will encourage constructive and frank discussion on the roles of uterine NK cells, macrophages, T regulatory cells, cytokines and chemokines at the maternal-fetal interface. Emphasis will be placed on the translational aspects of the research presented.
Workshop 2
Galectins, Chemokines and Trophoblast Invasion
Organizers:
Elah Pick-Golan (Haifa University, Israel) elahpick@research.haifa.ac.il
Hamutal Meiri (DTL, Yoknaim, Israel) hamutal.meiri@pregenesys.com
Harvey J. Kliman (Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA) harvey.kliman@yale.edu
Aim:
Explore the regulatory role that galectins and chemokines play in trophoblast invasion and maternal vascular conversion in the human placental bed
Objectives:
- Describe the biology and structure of galectins and chemokines
- Review the differentiation pathways of trophoblasts, including villus, anchoring and invasive trophoblasts
- Understand the interactions between invasive trophoblasts and the maternal immune system in the placental bed.
- Describe the potential clinical implications for these immune regulators.
Focus:
Begin from a detailed understanding of molecular structure and function and placental differentiation pathways to the specific pathologic consequences of abnormalities in these processes.
Structure:
Dr. Elah Pick Golan will describe biology and biochemistry of chemokines and galectins in the normal and pathological processes. Prof. Harvey Kliman will review the normal differentiation of the placenta and the role of one of the galectins – placental protein 13 (Galectin 13) in regulating placenta trophoblast invasion in normal and pathological conditions. Dr. Hamutal Meiri will describe the clinical applications of these discoveries.
Workshop 3
Signaling in implantation and invasion
Organizers:
Asgi Fazleabas (Chicago, USA) asgi@uic.edu
Claire Roberts (Adelaide, Australia) claire.roberts@adelaide.edu.au
Aim:
To present current concepts on the mechanisms associated with embryo-maternal interactions and the establishment of pregnancy.
Objectives:
- To present evidence on the role of the primate embryonic signal chorionic gonadotropin in modulating the endometrium in preparation for implantation.
- To evaluate the use of mouse models to study embryo induced gene expression at the site of implantation.
- To demonstrate the efficacy of animals models to study the influence of the maternal environment on fetal development.]
- Understand the mechanisms by which signals that emanate from the placental villi modulate endmetrial and decidual resposnes.
Focus:
The focus will be on the role of the embryo on modulating its environment during the establishment of pregnancy and the clinical implications of these processes.
Structure:
The workshop will be divided into two components:
- Four experienced investigators from the University of Illinois (Asgi Fazleabas), the University of Adelaide (Claire Roberts) ,the Prince Henry’s Institute for Medical Research (Guiying Nie) and the University of Manchester will provide overviews of their work and emphasize the advantages of the model systems they utilize to study the importance of maternal-fetal interactions on the establishment of pregnancy.
- Additional presentations will be solicited from abstracts in this area that describe new breakthroughs.
Workshop 4
Trophoblast: Markers to identify subpopulations
Organizers:
Graham Burton (Cambridge UK) gjb2@cam.ac.uk
Larry Chamley (Auckland, New Zealand) l.chamley@auckland.ac.nz
Aim:
To identify reliable markers of trophoblast subpopulations
Objectives:
- To reach consensus on which trophoblast subpopulations do or might exist in the human placenta
- To identify a range of markers for these trophoblast subpopulations
Focus:
What do we know about trophoblast subpopulations and what clues can markers from trophoblast populations in other species especially the mouse give us?
Structure:
Short presentations with audience interaction. The moderators will actively provoke audience participation.
We hope this session will allow frank discussion of the issues at hand, for example:
Are there subpopulations of villous cytotrophoblasts in the human placenta?
Is HLA-G really a marker of extravillous trophoblasts?
How do identified subpopulations of human trophoblasts relate to subpopulations of trophoblasts in mice and other species?
We welcome suggestions from potential speakers.
Workshop 5
Clinical correlates of placental pathologies
Organizers:
Sarah Keating (Toronto, CA) skeating@mtsinai.on.ca
Judith Bulmer (Newcastle, UK) J.N.Bulmer@newcastle.ac.uk
Mark Turner (Liverpool, UK) Mark.turner@liverpool.ac.uk
Aim:
To present the "state of the art" regarding clinical interpretation of placental pathology
Objectives:
- to present contemporary schemes used to describe and classify placental pathology
- to demonstrate how placenal pathology reflects clinical and biological processes before birth
- to review how events after birth reflect placental pathology
Focus:
The focus will be on "high-risk" human pregnancies, including severe, early onset pre-eclampsia and chorioamnionitis leading to delivery before 28 weeks gestation.
Structure:
The workshop will have two components.
a) three experienced groups (Liverpool, Toronto and Newcastle) will present case histories to illustrate key patterns of placental pathology in their clinical contexts. Case histories will be supplemented by overviews of the relevant literature.
b) "hot topic" presentations will be selected from the abstracts submitted to the conference.
Participant who already agreed to contribute:
Siobhan Quenby (Liverpool, UK) squenby@liverpool.ac.uk
Workshop 6
Toxicology Testing using the Human Placenta for Evaluation of Human Health Risk
Organizers:
Kathleen Shiverick (Gainesville, USA) kshiveri@ULF.edu
Richard K. Miller (Rochester, USA) richardk_miller@urmc.rochester.edu
Aim:
Examine the agents that produce developmental and reproductive toxicity in the human and may impact the placenta.
Focus:
Explore how the experimental models can be used to determine such toxicity in the placenta.
Objectives:
- Describe some of the known Placental toxicants and known actions.
- Review methods for evaluating placental toxicity.
- Examine recent examples of possible placental toxicants from infectious agents to immune distruptors to nanoparticles:Their actions and methods for investigation will be discussed.
Structure:
Overview presentations will be given by Kathleen Shiverick and Richard Miller followed by specific presentations on nanoparticles by Prof Kreyling or Dr. Semmler-Behnke (Munich) and additional presentations will selected from the abstracts submitted for the meeting.
Workshop 7
How to quantify placental structure using stereology
Organizers:
Terry Mayhew (Nottingham, UK) terry.mayhew@nottingham.ac.uk
Tahera Ansari (London, UK) t.i.ansari@imperial.ac.uk
Aim:
To present a ‘hands-on’ practical class introducing basic principles for quantifying placental structures using stereological methods.
Objectives:
- To introduce principles of tissue sampling for estimating relevant structural quantities;
- To introduce the basic idea behind stereological estimation using tissue probes (sections, lines and points);
- To provide opportunities to estimate quantities (tissue volumes, membrane surface areas, tubule lengths, cell number, etc) from microscopical images of placenta;
- To discuss practical issues raised by participants’ personal interests.
Focus:
The idea is to offer a simple introduction to stereological estimation with a strong focus on application. This will be supported by considerations of sampling and relevant biomedical contexts (e.g. villous growth, angiogenesis, trophoblast turnover, diffusive transport in normal, complicated and experimental pregnancies).
Structure:
The workshop will have three components:
[a] an introduction to sampling and stereological estimation;
[b] a practical session with placental images to illustrate how key quantities can be estimated by counting chance encounters between tissue structures and test probes;
[c] a review session in which practical issues can be discussed.
Workshop 8
Placental transport of fatty acids: mechanisms and clinical implications
Organizers:
Gernot Desoye (Graz/Austria) gernot.desoye@meduni-graz.at
Thomas Jansson (Cincinnati/USA) thomas.jansson@uc.edu
Aim:
To review current knowledge on mechanisms of placental fatty acid transport and discuss clinical implications of changes in these transport systems.
Objectives:
- To briefly present available data on mechanisms mediating transport of FFA across the placenta and factors regulating these processes.
- To review data on changes in these transport systems in association to important pregnancy complications such as IUGR and discuss their clinical implications.
Focus:
The workshop will be focused on current controversies and clinical implications in order to identify critical basic and clinical research questions for future studies.
Structure:
Theresa Powell, University of Cincinnati, USA
An introduction to placental fatty acid transport: mechanisms, controversies and the role of lipases.
Susanne Lager, University of Gothenburg, Sweden (Young Investigator)
Free fatty acids and pro-inflammatory cytokines stimulate placental fatty acid uptake.
Yoel Sadovsky, Magee-Women’s Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, USA
Regulation of placental fatty-acid trafficking: Hypoxia, PPAR gamma and beyond.
Kari Anne Tobin, University of Oslo, Norway (Young Investigator)
LCPUFA transport across BeWo monolayers.
Irene Cetin, University of Milan, Italy
Fatty acids in the fetal circulation of normal and gestational diabetic pregnancies.
GENERAL DISCUSSION (30 min).
Workshop 9
Human Placental Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Organizers:
Dirk Strunk(Graz, Austria) dirk.strunk@klinikum-graz.at
Gottfried Dohr (Graz, Austria) gottfried.dohr@meduni-graz.at
Aim:
To present an overview on mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) research, biology and function.
Objectives:
- A.D. Ho will present a plenary lecture on MSC biology and function
- O. Parolini will give a concise review on placental MSC
- D. Strunk will present current technology for ‘Making MSC a clinical Product’
Focus:
Based on the critical discussion of current knowledge about MSC multi-potency compared to other stem cells the workshop will focus on placental and umbilical cord MSC and a brief introduction into clinical scale MSC propagation under experimental as well as GMP conditions.
Structure:
- Three experts in the field will introduce the ‘state of the art’ in selected fields of MSC research and clinical application.
- ‘Hot topics’ will be selected from abstracts submitted to the conference.
Workshop 10
Different species with different placental solutions for fetal development and survival
Organizers:
Vibeke Dantzer (Copenhagen, Denmark) vd@life.ku.dk
Christiane Pfarrer (Hannover, Germany) christiane.pfarrer@tiho-hannover.de
Aim:
To present different placental concepts/strategies found in species economically or scientifically relevant to develop new ideas and strategies for animal reproduction.
Objectives:
Embryonic and fetal loss occur at different times being highest before the full establishment of the placenta. In several species this loss, as well as perinatal mortality are of large economic relevance. We will discuss different experimental approaches to increase our knowledge about the processes of importance during placentation. Data from a broad range of placental types will be included to elucidate different events occurring in specifically sensitive phases.
Focus:
The focus will be the variety of strategies (although these terms sound contradictory).
Structure:
The workshop will be a mixture of presentations given by established groups (6) and hot topics (2, selected from conference abstracts).
Special attention will be paid to the fact that ample time should be reserved for discussion of the single presentations as well as the workshop as a whole.
120 min (5 min statements + 5 min discussion)
Participants who already agreed to contribute:
Allen Enders (UC Davis, CA) acenders@ucdavis.edu
Greg Johnson (Texas A&M Univ., TX) gjohnson@cvm.tamu.edu
Carolyn Jones (Univ. Manchester, UK) carolyn.jones@manchester.ac.uk
Angelica Miglino or coworker (Univ. Sao Paulo, Brazil) miglino@usp.br
Christiane Pfarrer (Vet. U. Hannover, Germany) christiane.pfarrer@tiho-hannover.de
Workshop 11
Trophoblast and Neoplasia
Organizers:
Paul Bischof (Geneva Switzerland) paul.bischof@hcuge.ch
D Michael Nelson (St. Louis USA) nelsondm@wudosis.wustl.edu
Aim:
To describe some molecular mechanisms common to trophoblast and tumour invasion.
Objectives:
- To identify molecules or molecular pathways that regulate the invasive behaviour of trophoblast or tumour cells
- To discuss the pathologies derived from a loss of control of the invasive behaviour
- To define possible therapeutic targets
Focus:
The focus will be on molecules that perturb the cell cycle such as p53, GRP 78/Bip, different oncogenes and anti-oncogenes.
Structure:
The workshop will be composed of presentations from groups actively involved in the field with ample time for discussions.
Tentative list of speakers:
Leslie Myatt (Cincinatti USA),
Marie Cohen (Geneva Switzerland),
Irmgard Irminger (Geneva Switzerland),
Billy Yung (Cambridge UK),
Mike Nelson (St. Louis USA),
Paul Bischof (Geneva Switzerland)
Workshop 12
Trophoblast: Regulation of Differentiation
Organizers:
Ian Crocker (Manchester, UK) ian.crocker@manchester.ac.uk
Sascha Drewlo (Toronto, Canada) drewlo@mshri.on.ca
Aim:
To explore the impact of environmental and molecular factors on the differentiation of the trophoblast and the possible contribution to placental pathologies.
Objectives:
- Review of current knowledge on the differentiation of the human trophoblast and its sub-compartments.
- Review of known major regulatory factors and their influence on trophoblast differentiation.
- Discussions on the maintenance and turnover of the trophoblast, i.e. the balance of differentiation and proliferation, cellular commitments and molecular decisions.
- New insights into factors which contribute to trophoblast differentiation and their possible involvements in related pathologies.
Focus:
Begin with a general overview leading to a detailed understanding of our current knowledge on differentiation of the human trophoblast.
Structure:
- The Workshop will begin with two general talks about cyto-/trophoblast development and differentiation by representatives of the field (15-20min).
- Further talks 3-4 each 10 min will be covered by senior and young investigators in the field. Selected speakers will be invited from submitted conference abstracts to present 'hot topic' research. The organizers will focus on the discussion of the presented data and will support a lively interaction between the audience and speakers.
