Overview
Background
Dr Cuffe is a systems physiologist focused on understanding the complex changes to maternal physiology that occur during pregnancy and the impact of pregnancy dysfunction of programmed cardiovascular, metabolic and renal disease in offspring. Dr Cuffe has a particular focus on understanding the role of the placenta and its hormones in mediating both maternal and offspring disease. He is most recognised for his research investigating how maternal stress, thyroid dysfunction, hypoxia or altered nutrition affect placental development and program disease in the mother after pregnancy as well as her offspring. Dr Cuffe has an exceptional track record and is excited to take new honours and PhD students into his research laboratory.
Availability
- Dr James Cuffe is:
- Available for supervision
Fields of research
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
- Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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Placental regulation of pregnancy disorders
The placenta modulates almost every aspect of human physiology during pregnancy and it is the least understood of all human organs. It is known that placental dysfunction contributes to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, stillbirth, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction and yet the mechanisms responsible are largely unknown. Much of my work focuses on understanding what goes wrong in the placenta to cause such poor outcomes in pregnancy.
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Understanding the impact of thyroid disorders on pregnancy outcomes
Given that thyroid disorders impact 1 in 20 women, it is essential to understand the links between these disorders and poor outcomes in pregnancy. In particular, I want to understand how targeting novel factors may ensure a healthy start to life for babies born to women with a thyroid disorder
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Effects of maternal adversity on offspring physiology
I am interested in understanding how stress, hypoxia or other causes of adversity during pregnancy can impair placental function and induce fetal growth restriction. Given that fetal growth restriction is associated with a range of adult onset diseases, I explore the link between these maternal factors and offspring cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological and renal dysfunction.
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Understanding the role of poorly understood nutrients in pregnancy health and fetal development
We must obtain a large number of micronutrients in our diet to ensure optimal health. The requirements for many of these micronutrients increase in pregnancy as the placenta actively transports these nutrients to the baby where they are required for essential biological processes or to provide the building blocks of life. This can mean that micronutrient deficiencies can become problematic at a time that the human body is undergoing the most significant changes to its physiology that occur during its lifetime. My research focuses on understand the key biological roles of such micronutrients in pregnancy which may better inform nutrient requirements to ensure a healthy pregnancy. I am currently most interested in understanding the roles of selenium and vitamin B12 in pregnancy in relation to poor pregnancy outcomes and long term disease in offspring.
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Understanding the impact of metformin on placental formation
Metformin is frontline medication used for management of endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus and polycystic ovary syndrome. Furthermore, it is one of only two treatments used to manage gestational diabetes. Metformin is known to induce its effects by impacting multiple pathways however, how it impacts maternal and fetal physiology in pregnancy is largely unknown. I am currently looking at how metformin impacts placental development and if some of the benefits of this drug are due to changes in placental function.
Works
Search Professor James Cuffe’s works on UQ eSpace
2019
Journal Article
Proteomic Analysis of Placental Mitochondria Following Trophoblast Differentiation
Fisher, Joshua J., McKeating, Daniel R., Cuffe, James S., Bianco-Miotto, Tina, Holland, Olivia J. and Perkins, Anthony V. (2019). Proteomic Analysis of Placental Mitochondria Following Trophoblast Differentiation. Frontiers in Physiology, 10 1536, 1536. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2019.01536
2019
Journal Article
Maternal selenium deficiency during pregnancy in mice increases thyroid hormone concentrations, alters placental function and reduces fetal growth
Hofstee, Pierre, Bartho, Lucy A., McKeating, Daniel R., Radenkovic, Filip, McEnroe, Georgia, Fisher, Joshua J., Holland, Olivia J., Vanderlelie, Jessica J., Perkins, Anthony V. and Cuffe, James S.M. (2019). Maternal selenium deficiency during pregnancy in mice increases thyroid hormone concentrations, alters placental function and reduces fetal growth. The Journal of Physiology, 597 (23) JP278473, 5597-5617. doi: 10.1113/jp278473
2019
Journal Article
Elevated maternal linoleic acid reduces circulating leptin concentrations, cholesterol levels and male fetal survival in rat model
Shrestha, Nirajan, Cuffe, James S. M., Holland, Olivia J., Bulmer, Andrew C., Hill, Melissa, Perkins, Anthony V., Muhlhausler, Beverly S., McAinch, Andrew J. and Hryciw, Deanne H.. (2019). Elevated maternal linoleic acid reduces circulating leptin concentrations, cholesterol levels and male fetal survival in rat model. The Journal of Physiology, 597 (13) JP277583, 3349-3361. doi: 10.1113/jp277583
2019
Journal Article
Mitochondrial isolation, cryopreservation and preliminary biochemical characterisation from placental cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast
Fisher, Joshua J., McKeating, Daniel R., Pennell, Evan N., Cuffe, James S., Holland, Olivia J. and Perkins, Anthony V. (2019). Mitochondrial isolation, cryopreservation and preliminary biochemical characterisation from placental cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast. Placenta, 82, 1-4. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.05.004
2019
Journal Article
Maternal corticosterone in the mouse alters oxidative stress markers, antioxidant function and mitochondrial content in placentas of female fetuses
Bartho, Lucy A., Holland, Olivia, Moritz, Karen M., Perkins, Anthony V. and Cuffe, James S. M. (2019). Maternal corticosterone in the mouse alters oxidative stress markers, antioxidant function and mitochondrial content in placentas of female fetuses. The Journal of Physiology, 597 (12) JP277815, 3053-3067. doi: 10.1113/jp277815
2019
Journal Article
Exercise initiated during pregnancy in rats born growth restricted alters placental mTOR and nutrient transporter expression
Mangwiro, Yeukai T. M., Cuffe, James S. M., Mahizir, Dayana, Anevska, Kristina, Gravina, Sogand, Romano, Tania, Moritz, Karen M., Briffa, Jessica F. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2019). Exercise initiated during pregnancy in rats born growth restricted alters placental mTOR and nutrient transporter expression. The Journal of Physiology, 597 (7), 1905-1918. doi: 10.1113/jp277227
2019
Conference Publication
Is placental aging the key to gestational disorders?
Bartho, Lucy, Fisher, Joshua, Holland, Olivia, Cuffe, James and Perkins, Anthony (2019). Is placental aging the key to gestational disorders?. Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations (IFPA), Tokyo, Japan, 21-24 September 2018. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.06.312
2019
Journal Article
Linoleic acid increases prostaglandin E2 release and reduces mitochondrial respiration and cell viability in human trophoblast-like cells
Shrestha, Nirajan, Cuffe, James S. M., Holland, Olivia J., Perkins, Anthony V., McAinch, Andrew J. and Hryciw, Deanne H. (2019). Linoleic acid increases prostaglandin E2 release and reduces mitochondrial respiration and cell viability in human trophoblast-like cells. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry, 52 (1), 94-108. doi: 10.33594/000000007
2019
Journal Article
Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters the stress axis in adult female but not male rat offspring
Burgess, Danielle J., Dorey, Emily S., Gardebjer, Emelie M., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle, Moritz, Karen M. and Cuffe, James S. M. (2019). Periconceptional ethanol exposure alters the stress axis in adult female but not male rat offspring. Stress, 22 (3), 1-11. doi: 10.1080/10253890.2018.1563068
2019
Conference Publication
Mmitochondrial metabolic and bioenergetic adaptations associated with the morphological and functional transformation from cytotrophoblast to syncytiotrophoblast
Fisher, Joshua, Cuffe, James, Holland, Olivia and Perkins, Anthony (2019). Mmitochondrial metabolic and bioenergetic adaptations associated with the morphological and functional transformation from cytotrophoblast to syncytiotrophoblast. Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations (IFPA), Tokyo, Japan, 21-24 September 2018. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier . doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2019.06.294
2018
Journal Article
Maternal exercise and growth restriction in rats alters placental angiogenic factors and blood space area in a sex-specific manner
Mangwiro, Yeukai T. M., Briffa, Jessica F., Gravina, Sogand, Mahizir, Dayana, Anevska, Kristina, Romano, Tania, Moritz, Karen M., Wlodek, Mary E. and Cuffe, James S. M. (2018). Maternal exercise and growth restriction in rats alters placental angiogenic factors and blood space area in a sex-specific manner. Placenta, 74, 47-54. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2018.12.005
2018
Journal Article
Placental mitochondrial adaptations in preeclampsia associated with progression to term delivery
Holland, Olivia J., Cuffe, James S. M., Dekker Nitert, Marloes, Callaway, Leonie, Kwan Cheung, Keith A., Radenkovic, Filip and Perkins, Anthony V. (2018). Placental mitochondrial adaptations in preeclampsia associated with progression to term delivery. Cell Death & Disease, 9 (12) 1150, 1150. doi: 10.1038/s41419-018-1190-9
2018
Journal Article
Placental adaptations to micronutrient dysregulation in the programming of chronic disease
Hofstee, Pierre, McKeating, Daniel R., Perkins, Anthony V. and Cuffe, James S.M. (2018). Placental adaptations to micronutrient dysregulation in the programming of chronic disease. Clinical and Experimental Pharmacology and Physiology, 45 (8), 871-884. doi: 10.1111/1440-1681.12954
2018
Journal Article
Maternal exercise in rats upregulates the placental IGF-system with diet and sex-specific responses: minimal effects in mothers born growth restricted
Mangwiro, Yeukai T.M., Cuffe, James S.M., Briffa, Jessica F., Mahizir, Dayana, Anevska, Kristina, Jefferies, Andrew J., Hosseini, Sogand, Romano, Tania, Moritz, Karen M. and Wlodek, Mary E. (2018). Maternal exercise in rats upregulates the placental IGF-system with diet and sex-specific responses: minimal effects in mothers born growth restricted. The Journal of Physiology, 596 (23), 5947-5964. doi: 10.1113/jp275758
2018
Journal Article
Peripheral modulation of the endocannabinoid system in metabolic disease
Shrestha, Nirajan, Cuffe, James S. M., Hutchinson, Dana S., Headrick, John P., Perkins, Anthony V., McAinch, Andrew J. and Hryciw, Deanne H. (2018). Peripheral modulation of the endocannabinoid system in metabolic disease. Drug Discovery Today, 23 (3), 592-604. doi: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.01.029
2018
Conference Publication
Periconceptional ethanol alters the social and depressive-like phenotypes in rat offspring
Burgess, D. J., Lucia, D., Cuffe, J. S. M. and Moritz, K. M. (2018). Periconceptional ethanol alters the social and depressive-like phenotypes in rat offspring. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, California, 16-20 June 2018 . Malden, MA, United States: Wiley-Blackwell.
2018
Conference Publication
Periconceptional ethanol programs a decrease in plasma corticosterone and altered hippocampal gene regulation of stress pathways in rat offspring
Burgess, D. J., Lucia, D., Cuffe, J. S. M. and Moritz, K. M. (2018). Periconceptional ethanol programs a decrease in plasma corticosterone and altered hippocampal gene regulation of stress pathways in rat offspring. 41st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Research Society on Alcoholism, San Diego, CA, United States, 16-20 June 2018. Hoboken, NJ United States: Wiley.
2018
Conference Publication
Increased respiration and ATP production in cytotrophoblast compared to syncytiotrophoblast mitochondria
Fisher, Joshua, McKeating, Daniel, Pennell, Evan, Vanderlelie, Jessica, Cuffe, James, Holland, Olivia and Perkins, Anthony (2018). Increased respiration and ATP production in cytotrophoblast compared to syncytiotrophoblast mitochondria. Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations (IFPA), Tokyo Japan, Sep 21-24, 2018. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier .
2017
Journal Article
Uteroplacental insufficiency in rats induces renal apoptosis and delays nephrogenesis completion
Cuffe, James Sm, Briffa, Jessica F., Rosser, Shannyn, Siebel, Andrew L., Romano, Tania, Hryciw, Deanne H., Wlodek, Mary E. and Moritz, Karen M. (2017). Uteroplacental insufficiency in rats induces renal apoptosis and delays nephrogenesis completion. Acta Physiologica, 222 (3) e12982, e12982. doi: 10.1111/apha.12982
2017
Journal Article
The effects of periconceptional maternal alcohol intake and a postnatal high-fat diet on obesity and liver disease in male and female rat offspring
Gardebjer, Emelie M., Cuffe, James S. M., Ward, Leigh C., Steane, Sarah, Anderson, Stephen T., Dorey, Emily S., Kalisch-Smith, Jacinta I., Pantaleon, Marie, Chong, Suyinn, Yamada, Lisa, Wlodek, Mary E., Bielefeldt-Ohmann, Helle and Moritz, Karen M. (2017). The effects of periconceptional maternal alcohol intake and a postnatal high-fat diet on obesity and liver disease in male and female rat offspring. American Journal of Physiology: Endocrinology and Metabolism, 315 (4), ajpendo.00251.2-E704. doi: 10.1152/ajpendo.00251.2017
Funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr James Cuffe is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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Investigating placental contributions to complications of pregnancy
The placenta regulates all aspects of pregnancy health. It secretes factors into the maternal system to control maternal blood glucose concentrations, blood pressure and neurological function. This study will investigate key pathological processes in the placenta which may contribute to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction.
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Investigating how micro-nutrient deficiencies during pregnancy lead to metabolic and renal disease in offspring.
Given that only 1 in 20 Australians consume the recommended dietary intake of fruit and vegetables, most Australians would be deficient in key micronutrients when they fall pregnant. Deficiencies in these micronutrients is known to increase maternal risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia but their influence on offspring physiology is less well understood. This study will investigate the role of specific micronutrients in fetal development and offspring physiology. Most particularly, this project will focus on diabetes and renal disease in offspring, two comorbid conditions known to be affected by events that occur before birth.
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Investigating placental contributions to complications of pregnancy
The placenta regulates all aspects of pregnancy health. It secretes a range of steroid, protein and peptide hormones into the maternal system to override normal homeostatic processes resulting in drastic physiological changes to almost all biological systems. Such changes result in a significant expansion of blood volume, cardiac hypertrophy, redistribution of metabolic resources, altered insulin production, insulin resistance as well changes to neurological function. This study will investigate how pathological processes in the placenta impact hormone secretion and this may contribute to miscarriage, stillbirth, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction. This study also aims to increase our knowledge of poorly understood proteins that are only secreted by the placenta that likely have significant biological roles. To achieve these outcomes, this study will use a combination of clinical samples from pregnant people as well as targeted animal and in vitro models.
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Investigating how thyroid autoimmunity impacts pregnancy outcomes: Possible role of selenium as a treatment
Thyroid autoimmunity is the most common cause of thyroid dysfunction in areas that are iodine sufficient. Patients with thyroid autoimmunity have antibodies that target key thyroid proteins. These thyroid antibodies can disrupt thyroid function leading to thyroid disease. However, a large number of individuals have high levels of these antibodies without having yet developing changes to thyroid hormone levels. Approximately 1 in 6 pregnant people are positive for thyroid antibodies, and this increases their risk of a range of pregnancy complications, even if their thyroid hormone levels are within normal ranges. This study aims to investigate the biological processes by which thyroid antibodies lead to a range of pregnancy related disorders. For instance, we will investigate how thyroid antibodies impact vascular smooth muscle cell migration and how this might lead to preeclampsia or growth restriction. Currently, there are no suitable treatments for reducing thyroid antibody levels however, there is a large amount of emerging evidence that suggests that selenium supplementation might improve outcomes. Therefore this study will also explore how selenium can alter the biological processes shown to be impacted by thyroid antibodies.
Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the effects of Autoimmune Thyroiditis on Pregnancy Physiology
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the impact of metformin on one carbon metabolism, placental function and fetal outcomes.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Simmons
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges
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Doctor Philosophy
Treating thyroid autoimmunity in pregnancy with selenium supplementation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the effects of Autoimmune Thyroiditis on Pregnancy Physiology
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the impact of metformin on one carbon metabolism, placental function and fetal outcomes.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Simmons
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Doctor Philosophy
A new the mechanism for the coexistence of hypercortisolaemia and inflammation: GRalpha D1
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Glycogen in Epilepsy
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nela Durisic, Associate Professor Karin Borges
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy on maternal, placental and fetal outcomes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Moritz
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on maternal, placental, and fetal micronutrients
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Moritz
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of periconceptional ethanol exposure on maternal and offspring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and associated behaviours in a rat model.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Moritz
Media
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