Nesfatin-1 alleviates high glucose/high lipid-induced injury of trophoblast cells during gestational diabetes mellitus

Effects of asiaticoside on the model of gestational diabetes mellitus in HTR-8/svneo cells via PI3K/AKT pathway

BACKGROUND

Asiaticoside (AS) has been reported to improve the changes induced by high glucose stimulation, and it may have potential therapeutic effects on gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). This study aims to explore the effect of AS on the cell model of GDM and the action mechanism of the PI3K/AKT pathway.

METHODS

The GDM model was established in HTR-8/Svneo cells with a high glucose (HG) medium. After the cytotoxicity assay of AS, cells were divided into the control group, HG group and HG + AS group to conduct control experiment in cells. The cell proliferation and migration were detected by CCK-8 assay and scratch test, respectively. The mRNA levels of PI3K, AKT2, mTORC1, and GLUT4 in PI3K/AKT signalling pathway were measured by RT-PCR, and the protein expressions of these signalling molecules were monitored by western blot.

RESULTS

AS showed a promotion effect on the cell proliferation rate of HTR-8/Svneo cells, and 80 μmol/L AS with a treatment time of 48 h had no cytotoxicity. The cell proliferation rate, migration rate, mRNA levels and protein expressions of PI3K, AKT2, mTORC1, and GLUT4 in the HG group were significantly lower than those in the control group, which were significantly increased in the HG + AS group (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

AS can facilitate the cell proliferation and migration in the cell model of GDM, and might play a role in GDM treatment via PI3K/AKT pathway.

METTL14-mediated lncRNA XIST silencing alleviates GDM progression by facilitating trophoblast cell proliferation and migration via the miR-497-5p/FOXO1 axis

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a prevalent complication during the gestation period, has been linked to impaired proliferation and migration of trophoblasts causing placental maldevelopment. We previously found that lncRNA X-inactive specific transcript (XIST) played an essential role in GDM progression. Here, we investigated the precise biological functions as well as the upstream and downstream regulatory mechanisms of XIST in GDM. We found that XIST and forkhead box O1 (FOXO1) were conspicuously upregulated and miR-497-5p and methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) were downregulated in the placentas of GDM patients. XIST silencing facilitated proliferation and migration and inhibited cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HG-cultured HTR8/SVneo cells. METTL14 inhibited XIST expression through m6A methylation modification. XIST overexpression abrogated the positive effect of METTL14 overexpression on HG-cultured HTR8/SVneo cell progression. MiR-497-5p and FOXO1 are downstream regulatory genes of XIST in HTR8/SVneo cells. Reverse experiments illustrated that XIST mediated HTR8/SVneo cell functions by regulating the miR-497-5p/FOXO1 axis. Additionally, XIST silencing augmented glucose tolerance and alleviated fetal detrimental changes in GDM rats. To conclude, METTL14-mediated XIST silencing facilitated proliferation and migration and inhibited cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in HG-cultured HTR8/SVneo cells via the miR-497-5p/FOXO1 axis, thereby alleviating GDM progression in rats.

Nesfatin-1 peptide protects rat renal epithelial cells against high glucose and H2O2 induced injury via inhibition of oxidative stress, apoptosis, and fibrosis

Nesfatin-1 is a potent polypeptide and plays a crucial role in many physiological functions. Nesfatin-1 levels are reported in both the central nervous system and peripheral organs. However, the expression of nesfatin-1 in the renal system under chronic oxidative stress-induced conditions and the direct effect of nesfatin-1 treatment on stress-induced pathological damage are not reported. Thus, the present study aimed to explore the role of nesfatin-1 in vitro in oxidative stress-induced renal epithelial cells. High glucose (HG) and H2O2 combination were used to induce oxidative stress (OS). MTT, crystal violet, and H and E staining were used to measure cell viability, cytotoxicity, and morphology. FACS analysis and confocal microscopy were used to measure OS and apoptosis. RT-PCR was done for gene expression analysis. Decreased nesfatin-1 expression was observed in renal epithelial cells induced with HG and H2O2 compared to an untreated control (0.16; p < 0.0001). Nesfatin-1 co-treatment with HG and H2O2 attenuated ROS, apoptosis, and fibrosis. SOD, Catalase, and Bcl-2 expression decreased (p < 0.0001) and Caspase-3 and TGF-β1 expression increased in HG and H2O2-induced cells compared to control cells (p < 0.0001). Nesfatin-1 co-treatment attenuated these changes induced by HG and H2O2 (p < 0.0001). Nesfatin-1 expression was decreased in renal epithelial cells under stress-induced conditions. Moreover, nesfatin-1 co-treatment under stress-induced conditions protects the renal epithelial cells via inhibition of oxidative stress, apoptotic, and fibrotic signaling pathways.

Role of ferroptosis in pregnancy related diseases and its therapeutic potential

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death characterized by iron overload, overwhelming lipid peroxidation, and disruption of antioxidant systems. Emerging evidence suggests that ferroptosis is associated with pregnancy related diseases, such as spontaneous abortion, pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes mellitus, intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy, and spontaneous preterm birth. According to these findings, inhibiting ferroptosis might be a potential option to treat pregnancy related diseases. This review summarizes the mechanisms and advances of ferroptosis, the pathogenic role of ferroptosis in pregnancy related diseases and the potential medicines for its treatment.

High glucose and high lipid induced mitochondrial dysfunction in JEG-3 cells through oxidative stress

Few studies focused on the roles of high glucose combined with high lipid in placental development or fetal growth. This study was designed to investigate the roles of high glucose combined with high lipid in mitochondrial dysfunction of JEG-3 cells. We determined the cellular proliferation and apoptosis, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA), and lactic acid dehydrogenase in control group, high glucose group, high lipid group, and high glucose and high lipid group, together with the mitochondrial dysfunction, Nrf2, HO-1, SMAC, and cytochrome C (Cyt-C) expression. Significant decrease of SOD and significant elevation of MDA was seen in high glucose and high lipid group compared with the other three groups. There was significant decrease in mitochondrial SMAC and Cyt-C in high glucose group, high lipid group, and high glucose and high lipid group compared with those of control group. Nrf2 and HO-1 protein expression in high glucose combined with high lipid group showed significant decrease compared with that of high lipid group or high glucose group. We speculated that combination of high glucose and high lipid induced oxidative stress in JEG-3 cells, and Nrf2/ARE pathway may be related to this process.

HOXC8 alleviates high glucose-triggered damage of trophoblast cells during gestational diabetes mellitus via activating TGFβ1-mediated Notch1 pathway

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is an increasingly frequent disease occurred during pregnancy. HOXC8 has been disclosed to take part in the regulation of cancers. Additionally, the HOXC8 expression was dramatically decreased in the placenta of pre-eclampsia patients, but its expression and function have not been investigated in GDM. In this work, it was demonstrated that the mRNA and protein expression of HOXC8 was lower in GDM placenta tissues and GDM cell model. In addition, HOXC8 facilitated trophoblast cell proliferation and weakened trophoblast cell mitochondrial apoptosis. HOXC8 enhanced trophoblast cell migration and angiogenesis. Moreover, HOXC8 activated the TGFβ1-mediated Notch1 signaling pathway. Results showed that the mRNA and protein expressions of TGFβ1 and Notch1 were both lower in the GDM group than that in the NP group. Besides, there were positive correlations among HOXC8, TGFβ1 and Notch1. Inhibition of TGFβ1 (SB202190 treatment) reversed the effects of HOXC8 on trophoblast cells through modulating cell proliferation, mitochondrial apoptosis, migration and angiogenesis. At last, through in vivo experiments, it was identified that HOXC8 relieved GDM symptoms in vivo. In conclusion, HOXC8 alleviated HG-stimulated damage of trophoblast cells during GDM through activating TGFβ1-mediated Notch1 pathway. This discovery may provide a novel and useful bio-target for GDM treatment.

Altered levels of neurobiological biomarkers at the interface of depression and gestational diabetes mellitus in Asian Indian women

AIM

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) might predispose the mothers to depression. Studies have reported the role of biomarkers either in GDM or depression, but very few have examined them in GDM with depression. The present study profiled the circulating levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Beta Endorphin (BE) and nesfatin-1 in women with GDM (with and without depression).

METHODS

160 pregnant women at 24-28 weeks of pregnancy (NGT/GDM with & without depression, n = 40 each) were randomly selected from the ongoing STRiDE (STratification of Risk of Diabetes in Early pregnancy) study. Depression score was derived using PHQ-9 questionnaire and ELISA was used to quantify the biomarkers.

RESULTS

Circulatory levels of BDNF, BE and nesfatin-1 were lower in GDM women with or without depression compared to NGT without depression, however, nesfatin-1 levels were higher in NGT with depression. Notably, GDM with depression had the lowest levels of BDNF and BE. Both BDNF and BE levels were negatively correlated with depression, 1 h and 2 h plasma glucose. Regression analysis confirmed that each standard deviation decreases in BDNF and BE were independently associated with higher odds of GDM with or without depression even after adjusting for potential confounders.

CONCLUSION

Our study has identified altered levels of a panel of neurobiological biomarkers (BDNF/BE/nesfatin-1) in those with combined GDM and depression. BDNF/BE could be potential biomarkers to assess the higher risk of coexisting depression and GDM.