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Dang Q, Zhu Y, Zhang Y, Hu Z, Wei Y, Chen Z, Jiang X, Cai X, Yu H. Nuclear Binding Protein 2/Nesfatin-1 Affects Trophoblast Cell Fusion during Placental Development via the EGFR-PLCG1-CAMK4 Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1925. [PMID: 38339201 PMCID: PMC10856506 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that nuclear binding protein 2 (NUCB2) is expressed in the human placenta and increases with an increase in the syncytialization of trophoblast cells. This study aimed to investigate the role of NUCB2 in the differentiation and fusion of trophectoderm cells. In this study, the expression levels of NUCB2 and E-cadherin in the placentas of rats at different gestation stages were investigated. The results showed that there was an opposite trend between the expression of placental NUCB2 and E-cadherin in rat placentas in different trimesters. When primary human trophoblast (PHT) and BeWo cells were treated with high concentrations of Nesfatin-1, the trophoblast cell syncytialization was significantly inhibited. The effects of NUCB2 knockdown in BeWo cells and Forskolin-induced syncytialization were investigated. These cells showed a significantly decreased cell fusion rate. The mechanism underlying NUCB2-regulated trophoblast cell syncytialization was explored using RNA-Seq and the results indicated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLCG1)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CAMK4) pathway might be involved. The results suggested that the placental expression of NUCB2 plays an important role in the fusion of trophoblasts during differentiation via the EGFR-PLCG1-CAMK4 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qinyu Dang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yandi Zhu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yadi Zhang
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Zhuo Hu
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Yuchen Wei
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Zhaoyang Chen
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Xinyin Jiang
- Departments of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, New York, NY 11210, USA;
| | - Xiaxia Cai
- Department of Nutrition and Food Hygiene, School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China; (Q.D.); (Y.Z.); (Y.Z.); (Z.H.); (Y.W.); (Z.C.); (X.C.)
| | - Huanling Yu
- Departments of Health and Nutrition Sciences, Brooklyn College of City University of New York, New York, NY 11210, USA;
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Waye AA, Ticiani E, Veiga-Lopez A. Chemical mixture that targets the epidermal growth factor pathway impairs human trophoblast cell functions. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2024; 483:116804. [PMID: 38185387 PMCID: PMC11212468 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2024.116804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Pregnant women are exposed to complex chemical mixtures, many of which reach the placenta. Some of these chemicals interfere with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation, a receptor tyrosine kinase that modulates several placenta cell functions. We hypothesized that a mixture of chemicals (Chem-Mix) known to reduce EGFR activation (polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-126, PCB-153, atrazine, trans-nonachlor, niclosamide, and bisphenol S) would interfere with EGFR-mediated trophoblast cell functions. To test this, we determined the chemicals' EGFR binding ability, EGFR and downstream effectors activation, and trophoblast functions (proliferation, invasion, and endovascular differentiation) known to be regulated by EGFR in extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). The Chem-Mix competed with EGF for EGFR binding, however only PCB-153, niclosamide, trans-nonachlor, and BPS competed for binding as single chemicals. The effects of the Chem-Mix on EGFR phosphorylation were tested by exposing the placental EVT cell line, HTR-8/SVneo to control (0.1% DMSO), Chem-Mix (1, 10, or 100 ng/ml), EGF (30 ng/ml), or Chem-Mix + EGF. The Chem-Mix - but not the individual chemicals - reduced EGF-mediated EGFR phosphorylation in a dose dependent manner, while no effect was observed in its downstream effectors (AKT and STAT3). None of the individual chemicals affected EVT cell invasion, but the Chem-Mix reduced EVT cell invasion independent of EGF. In support of previous studies that have explored chemicals targeting a specific pathway (estrogen/androgen receptor), current findings indicate that exposure to a chemical mixture that targets the EGFR pathway can result in a greater impact compared to individual chemicals in the context of placental cell functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita A Waye
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Elvis Ticiani
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Almudena Veiga-Lopez
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA; The Chicago Center for Health and Environment, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Ticiani E, Villegas JA, Murga-Zamalloa C, Veiga-Lopez A. Binding sites in the epidermal growth factor receptor are responsible for bisphenol S effects on trophoblast cell invasion. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 318:137960. [PMID: 36716934 PMCID: PMC9993481 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol S (BPS) is an endocrine disrupting chemical and the second most abundant bisphenol detected in humans. We have recently demonstrated that in utero exposure to BPS reduces human placenta cell fusion by interfering with epidermal growth factor (EGF)-dependent EGF receptor (EGFR) activation. Our previous work suggests that this occurs via binding of BPS to the extracellular domain of EGFR. However, whether BPS directly binds to EGFR has not been confirmed. We evaluated the binding ability of BPA, BPF and BPS to EGFR to determine whether EGFR binding is a unique attribute of BPS. To test these hypotheses, we first exposed HTR-8/SVneo cells to BPS, BPA, or BPF, with or without EGF. When co-exposed to EGF, BPS, but not BPA nor BPF, reduced EGFR phosphorylation by ∼60%, demonstrating that only BPS can interfere with EGF-dependent EGFR activation. As this indicates that BPS binding to the extracellular domain is responsible for its effect, we performed a computational search for putative binding sites on the EGFR extracellular domain, and performed ligand docking of BPS, BPA, and BPF at these sites. We identified three sites where polar interactions between positively charged residues and the sulfonyl group of BPS could lead binding selectivity over BPA and BPF. To test whether EGFR mutations at the predicted BPS binding sites (Arg255, Lys454, and Arg297) could prevent BPS's interference on EGFR activation, mutations for each EGFR target amino acids (R255A, R297A, and K454A) were introduced. For variants with R297A or K454A mutations, BPS did not affect EGF-mediated EGFR phosphorylation or EGFR-mediated cell invasion, suggesting that these residues are needed for the BPS antagonism effect on EGFR. In conclusion, BPS, but not BPA or BPF, interferes with EGFR-mediated trophoblast cell functions through binding at Arg297 and Lys454 amino acid residues in the extracellular domain of EGFR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvis Ticiani
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | - José A Villegas
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA
| | | | - Almudena Veiga-Lopez
- Department of Pathology, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60612, USA.
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Zitouni H, Chayeb V, Ben Ali Gannoun M, Raguema N, Bendhaher S, Zouari I, Ben Abdennebi H, Guibourdenche J, Mahjoub T, Gaddour K, Almawi WY. Preeclampsia is associated with reduced renin, aldosterone, and PlGF levels, and increased sFlt-1/PlGF ratio, and specific angiotensin-converting enzyme Ins-Del gene variants. J Reprod Immunol 2023; 157:103924. [PMID: 36870296 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.103924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 02/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
We investigated the association of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism with preeclampsia (PE) in Tunisian women. ACE I/D genotyping was done by PCR in 342 pregnant women with PE and 289 healthy pregnant women. The association between ACE I/D and PE and associated features were also evaluated. Decreased active renin concentration, plasma aldosterone concentration, and placental growth factor (PlGF) were observed in PE cases, while soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1)/PlGF ratio was significantly higher in the PE group. Distribution of ACE I/D alleles and genotypes were comparable between women with PE and control women. A significant difference in the frequency of the I/I genotype was seen between PE cases and control women according to the recessive model, with a trend towards association in the codominant model. Carriers of the I/I genotype had significantly higher infant birth weights compared to the I/D and the D/D genotype carriers. A dose-dependent relationship was also seen in VEGF and PlGF plasma levels and specific ACE I/D genotypes, with the lowest VEGF levels seen in the I/I genotype carriers compared to the D/D genotype carriers. Similarly, the I/I genotype carriers had the lowest PlGF levels compared to I/D and D/D genotype carriers. Furthermore, when studying the linkage between PE features, we found a positive correlation between PAC and PIGF. Our study suggests a role for ACE I/D polymorphism in the pathogenesis of PE, possibly through modulating VEGF and PlGF levels and infant birth weight, and highlights the relationship between PAC and PlGF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hedia Zitouni
- Laboratory of Human Genome and Multifactorial Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; Private Laboratory of Clinical Biology, Place Pasteur Gafsa, 2100, Tunisia; Faculty of Science of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Tunisia
| | - Vera Chayeb
- Laboratory of Human Genome and Multifactorial Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; Faculty of Science of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Tunisia
| | - Marwa Ben Ali Gannoun
- Laboratory of Human Genome and Multifactorial Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; Faculty of Science of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Tunisia
| | - Nozha Raguema
- Laboratory of Human Genome and Multifactorial Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia; Faculty of Science of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Tunisia
| | - Sameh Bendhaher
- Private Laboratory of Clinical Biology, Place Pasteur Gafsa, 2100, Tunisia
| | - Ines Zouari
- Centre of Maternity and Neonatology, Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Hassen Ben Abdennebi
- Laboratory of Human Genome and Multifactorial Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
| | - Jean Guibourdenche
- Department of Biological Endocrinology, CHU Cochin, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Touhami Mahjoub
- Laboratory of Human Genome and Multifactorial Diseases, Faculty of Pharmacy of Monastir, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia
| | - Kamel Gaddour
- Laboratory of Bioresources: Integrative Biology and Valorisation BIOLIVAL, Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir, University of Monastir, Tunisia
| | - Wassim Y Almawi
- Faculté des Sciences de Tunis; Université de Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
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