miR-218-5p Induces Interleukin-1β and Endovascular Trophoblast Differentiation by Targeting the Transforming Growth Factor β-SMAD2 Pathway

Mmu_circ_0001148 promotes endothlial-mesenchymal transition via regulating miR-218-5p/JMY axis and drives progression of atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a common cardiovascular disease and responsible for the high mortality of cardiovascular emergencies. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) show a potential role in atherogenesis. We identified an aberrantly expressed circRNA (circ_0001148) in atherosclerotic tissues. However, whether circ_0001148 involved in atherogenesis remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the biological function of circ_0001148 and the underlying mechanism in AS. Functional analysis indicated that circ_0001148 promoted endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and thus accelerated the formation of atherosclerotic plaque. The mechanism analysis suggested that circ_0001148 act as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) to modify the expression of JMY by sponging miR-218-5p. We also demonstrated that the treatment of miR-218-5p mimics or JMY deficiency could attenuated the progression of AS induced by circ_0001148 overexpression. Therefore, we proposed a novel signaling network which circ_0001148 promotes atherogenesis via miR-218-5p/JMY axis. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms of AS, and potentially leading to the development of a novel therapeutic strategy targeting circ_0001148.

Immune-regulatory properties of endovascular extravillous trophoblast cells in human placenta

INTRODUCTION

Uterine spiral artery remodeling is the prerequisite for ensuring adequate blood supply to the maternal-fetal interface during human pregnancy. One crucial cellular event in this process involves the extensive replacement of the spiral artery endothelial cells by endovascular extravillous trophoblasts (enEVTs), a subtype of extravillous trophoblasts (EVTs). However, our understanding of the properties of enEVTs remains limited.

METHODS

Human enEVTs in decidual tissues during early pregnancy was purified using flow sorting by specific makers, NCAM1 and HLA-G. The high-throughput RNA sequencing analysis as well as the cytokine antibody array experiments were carried out to analyze for cell properties. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment, kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment, and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were performed on differentially expressed genes of enEVTs. Immunofluorescent assays were used to verify the analysis results.

RESULTS

Both enEVTs and interstitial EVTs (iEVTs) exhibited gene expression patterns typifying EVT characteristics. Intriguingly, enEVTs displayed gene expression associated with immune responses, particularly reminiscent of M2 macrophage characteristics. The active secretion of multiple cytokines and chemokines by enEVTs provided partial validation for their expression pattern of immune-regulatory genes.

DISCUSSION

Our study reveals the immune-regulatory properties of human enEVTs and provides new insights into their functions and mechanisms involved in spiral artery remodeling.

Downregulation of CLDN1 impairs trophoblast invasion and endovascular trophoblast differentiation in early-onset preeclampsia

INTRODUCTION

To investigate the role of claudin-1 (CLDN1) in trophoblast invasion and endovascular trophoblast (enEVT) differentiation in early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE).

METHODS

The expression and localization of CLDN1 in normal (n = 18) and EOPE (n = 20) placental tissues were detected by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) and Western blotting. Next, invasion, migration and tube formation assays were performed to explore the involvement of CLDN1 in trophoblast invasion and enEVT differentiation in trophoblast cell lines (HTR8/SVneo). Then, invasion and enEVT markers were analyzed via Western blotting and qRT‒PCR, respectively. Finally, we established an EOPE mouse model to detect the Cldn1 protein level.

RESULTS

CLDN1 expression was significantly decreased in EOPE placental tissues. Knockdown of CLDN1 suppressed HTR8/SVneo cell invasion, migration and the ability to penetrate the endothelial tube. Conversely, overexpression of CLDN1 promoted trophoblast invasion and the ability to invade the endothelial tube. Inhibition of CLDN1 decreased the protein expression of VIM and SNAIL along with downregulating IL1B and PECAM1 mRNA levels, while overexpression of CLDN1 gave the opposite results. In the EOPE mouse model, we found a decrease in Cldn1 expression in EOPE mouse placentas.

DISCUSSION

These results suggest that the downregulation of CLDN1 in trophoblast cells is involved in the pathogenesis of early-onset preeclampsia by affecting trophoblast invasion and enEVT differentiation.

Trophoblast Differentiation: Mechanisms and Implications for Pregnancy Complications

Placental development is a tightly controlled event, in which cell expansion from the trophectoderm occurs in a spatiotemporal manner. Proper trophoblast differentiation is crucial to the vitality of this gestational organ. Obstructions to its development can lead to pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and preterm birth, posing severe health risks to both the mother and offspring. Currently, the only known treatment strategy for these complications is delivery, making it an important area of research. The aim of this review was to summarize the known information on the development and mechanistic regulation of trophoblast differentiation and highlight the similarities in these processes between the human and mouse placenta. Additionally, the known biomarkers for each cell type were compiled to aid in the analysis of sequencing technologies.

Role of microRNAs in trophoblast invasion and spiral artery remodeling: Implications for preeclampsia

It is now well-established that microRNAs (miRNAs) are important regulators of gene expression. The role of miRNAs in placental development and trophoblast function is constantly expanding. Trophoblast invasion and their ability to remodel uterine spiral arteries are essential for proper placental development and successful pregnancy outcome. Many miRNAs are reported to be dysregulated in pregnancy complications, especially preeclampsia and they exert various regulatory effects on trophoblasts. In this review, we provide a brief overview of miRNA biogenesis and their mechanism of action, as well as of trophoblasts differentiation, invasion and spiral artery remodeling. We then discuss the role of miRNAs in trophoblasts invasion and spiral artery remodeling, focusing on miRNAs that have been thoroughly investigated, especially using multiple model systems. We also discuss the potential role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.