Polarized glucose transporters and mRNA expression properties in newly developed rat syncytiotrophoblast cell lines, TR-TBTs

miRNA changes in the mouse placenta due to bisphenol A exposure

Aim: To determine small RNA expression changes in mouse placenta induced by bisphenol A (BPA) exposure. Methods: Exposing female mice to BPA two weeks prior to conception through gestational day 12.5; whereupon fetal placentas were collected, frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80°C. Small RNAs were isolated and used for small RNA-sequencing. Results: 43 small RNAs were differentially expressed. Target mRNAs were closely aligned to those expressed by thymus and brain, and pathway enrichment analyses indicated that such target mRNAs regulate neurogenesis and associated neurodevelopment processes. Conclusions: BPA induces several small RNAs in mouse placenta that might provide biomarkers for BPA exposure. Further, the placenta might affect fetal brain development through the secretion of miRNAs.

Maternal-fetal outcomes of exercise applied in rats with mild hyperglycemia after embryonic implantation

BACKGROUND

Exercise is commonly recommended to control hyperglycemia, including during pregnancy. We conducted this study to understand the potential benefits and risks of exercise during pregnancy of women with diabetes. Specifically, we evaluated the effects of swimming on a diabetic rat during pregnancy and assayed maternal-fetal parameters.

METHODS

Diabetes was induced in the female newborn from Wistar rats by the streptozotocin administration on first postnatal day. At 110 days of life, after confirm mild symptoms of diabetes, the rats were mated and randomly distributed into four experimental groups (minimum of 13 animals/group): Control (C)-nondiabetic animals without swimming; Control and Exercise (CEx)-nondiabetic animals submitted to swimming; Mild Diabetic (MD)-diabetic animals without swimming; Mild Diabetic and Exercise (MDEx)-diabetic animals submitted to swimming. The swimming program was performed from day 7 to 21 of pregnancy. Maternal parameters were evaluated during the pregnancy period. On day 21 of pregnancy, the rats were sacrificed and maternal and fetal parameters analyzed.

RESULTS

There are no alterations in body weight, food consumption, water intake, and reproductive outcomes among the groups. The swimming program did not normalize maternal glycemia and other biochemical biomarkers. The diabetes and exercise combination increased organ weight. The fetuses born to these exercising diabetic rats had reduced fetal weight and increased skeletal anomalies (mainly incomplete ossification of sternebra).

CONCLUSION

The intense swimming exercise imposed on female rats during pregnancy impaired maternal metabolic repercussions, contributing to intrauterine growth restriction and fetal skeletal anomalies.

Quantification of ENT1 and ENT2 Proteins at the Placental Barrier and Contribution of These Transporters to Ribavirin Uptake

The aims of this study are to quantify the protein levels of nucleoside transporters in placental microvillous membranes (MVMs) and to clarify the contributions of these transporters to ribavirin uptake at the placental barrier. Placental MVMs of human and rat expressed equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) 1 protein, whereas the expression of ENT2 protein was obscure. Maternal-to-fetal transfer of [³H]ribavirin in rats was much higher than that of [¹⁴C]sucrose. The uptake of [³H]ribavirin by rat placental trophoblast TR-TBT 18 d-1 cells, which functionally express both ENT1 and ENT2 proteins, was saturable, and was significantly inhibited by 0.1 μM nitrobenzylthioinosine, which selectively abolishes ENT1-mediated uptake. Dipyridamole at 10 μM is capable of inhibiting ENT2 as well as ENT1, but a degree of inhibition by 10 μM dipyridamole on [³H]ribavirin uptake was not much different from that by 0.1 μM nitrobenzylthioinosine (ENT1-specific inhibitor). Therefore, ENT2 may contribute little to [³H]ribavirin uptake by these cells. Rat ENT1 cRNA-injected oocytes showed increased [³H]ribavirin uptake compared with water-injected oocytes, while rat ENT2 cRNA-injected oocytes did not. In conclusion, ENT1 protein expressed in placental MVMs appears to play a predominant role in the uptake of ribavirin.

Genetic and pharmacological correction of aberrant dopamine synthesis using patient iPSCs with BH4 metabolism disorders

Dopamine (DA) is a neurotransmitter in the brain, playing a central role in several disease conditions, including tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) metabolism disorders and Parkinson's disease (PD). BH4 metabolism disorders present a variety of clinical manifestations including motor disturbance via altered DA metabolism, since BH4 is a cofactor for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), a rate-limiting enzyme for DA synthesis. Genetically, BH4 metabolism disorders are, in an autosomal recessive pattern, caused by a variant in genes encoding enzymes for BH4 synthesis or recycling, including 6-pyruvoyltetrahydropterin synthase (PTPS) or dihydropteridine reductase (DHPR), respectively. Although BH4 metabolism disorders and its metabolisms have been studied, it is unclear how gene variants cause aberrant DA synthesis in patient neurons. Here, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from BH4 metabolism disorder patients with PTPS or DHPR variants, corrected the gene variant in the iPSCs using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, and differentiated the BH4 metabolism disorder patient- and isogenic control iPSCs into midbrain DA neurons. We found that by the gene correction, the BH4 amount, TH protein level and extracellular DA level were restored in DA neuronal culture using PTPS deficiency iPSCs. Furthermore, the pharmacological correction by BH4 precursor sepiapterin treatment also improved the phenotypes of PTPS deficiency. These results suggest that patient iPSCs with BH4 metabolism disorders provide an opportunity for screening substances for treating aberrant DA synthesis-related disorders.

Identification of p-glycoprotein and transport mechanism of Paclitaxel in syncytiotrophoblast cells

When chemotherapy is administered during pregnancy, it is important to consider the fetus chemotherapy exposure, because it may lead to fetal consequences. Paclitaxel has become widely used in the metastatic and adjuvant settings for woman with cancer including breast and ovarian cancer. Therefore, we attempted to clarify the transport mechanisms of paclitaxel through blood-placenta barrier using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines (TR-TBTs). The uptake of paclitaxel was time- and temperature-dependent. Paclitaxel was eliminated about 50% from the cells within 30 min. The uptake of paclitaxel was saturable with K_m of 168 μM and 371 μM in TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2, respectively. [³H]Paclitaxel uptake was markedly inhibited by cyclosporine and verapamil, well-known substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter. However, several MRP substrates and organic anions had no effect on [³H]paclitaxel uptake in TR-TBT cells. These results suggest that P-gp may be involved in paclitaxel transport at the placenta. TR-TBT cells expressed mRNA of P-gp. These findings are important for therapy of breast and ovarian cancer of pregnant women, and should be useful data in elucidating teratogenicity of paclitaxel during pregnancy.

Rat placentation: an experimental model for investigating the hemochorial maternal-fetal interface

The rat possesses hemochorial placentation with deep intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion and trophoblast-directed uterine spiral artery remodeling; features shared with human placentation. Recognition of these similarities spurred the establishment of in vitro and in vivo research methods using the rat as an animal model to address mechanistic questions regarding development of the hemochorial placenta. The purpose of this review is to provide the requisite background to help move the rat to the forefront in placentation research.

6-Mercaptopurine transport by equilibrative nucleoside transporters in conditionally immortalized rat syncytiotrophoblast cell lines TR-TBTs

Recently, more women were provided with 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP) during pregnancy. Therefore, we attempted to clarify the transport mechanisms of 6-MP through blood-placenta barrier using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines (TR-TBTs). The uptake of 6-MP was time- and ATP dependent, but sodium independent in TR-TBTs. 6-MP was eliminated over 50% from the cells within 30 min. The uptake of 6-MP was saturable with Michaelis-Menten constant values of 198 μM and 250 μM in TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2, respectively. 6-Thioguanine, azathioprine, and hypoxantine, structural analogues of 6-MP, strongly inhibited [(14) C]6-MP uptake. Equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT) inhibitors, adenosine and uridine, significantly inhibited [(14) C]6-MP uptake. However, several organic anions and cations had no effect on [(14) C]6-MP uptake in TR-TBTs. These results suggest that sodium-independent transporters, ENTs, may be involved in 6-MP uptake at the placenta. In addition, multidrug resistance protein (MRP) inhibitors, methotrexate, probenecid, cefmetazole, and sulfinpyrazone, significantly increased the accumulation of [(14) C]6-MP in the cells. It is indicated that 6-MP may be eliminated across the blood-placental barrier via MRPs. TR-TBTs expressed mRNA of ENT1, ENT2, MRP4, and MRP5. These findings are important for the therapy of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and autoimmune diseases of pregnant women, and should be useful data in elucidating teratogenicity of 6-MP during pregnancy.

Regulation of taurine transport at the blood-placental barrier by calcium ion, PKC activator and oxidative stress conditions

BACKGROUND

In the present study, we investigated the changes of uptake and efflux transport of taurine under various stress conditions using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell line (TR-TBT cells), as in vitro blood-placental barrier (BPB) model.

METHODS

The transport of taurine in TR-TBT cells were characterized by cellular uptake study using radiolabeled taurine. The efflux of taurine was measured from the amount of radiolabeled taurine remaining in the cells after the uptake of radiolabeled taurine for 60 min.

RESULTS

Taurine uptake was significantly decreased by phosphorylation of protein kinase C (PKC) activator in TR-TBT cells. Also, calcium ion (Ca2+) was involved in taurine transport in TR-TBT cells. Taurine uptake was inhibited and efflux was enhanced under calcium free conditions in the cells. In addition, oxidative stress induced the change of taurine transport in TR-TBT cells, but the changes were different depending on the types of oxidative stress inducing agents. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and diethyl maleate (DEM) significantly increased taurine uptake, but H2O2 and nitric oxide (NO) donor decreased taurine uptake in the cells. Taurine efflux was down-regulated by TNF-alpha in TR-TBT cells.

CONCLUSION

Taurine transport in TR-TBT cells were regulated diversely at extracellular Ca2+ level, PKC activator and oxidative stress conditions. It suggested that variable stresses affected the taurine supplies from maternal blood to fetus and taurine level of fetus.

Choline transport via choline transporter-like protein 1 in conditionally immortalized rat syncytiotrophoblast cell lines TR-TBT

Choline is an essential nutrient for phospholipids and acetylcholine biosynthesis in normal development of fetus. In the present study, we investigated the functional characteristics of choline transport system and inhibitory effect of cationic drugs on choline transport in rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell line (TR-TBT). Choline transport was weakly Na(+) dependent and significantly influenced by extracellular pH and by membrane depolarization. The transport process of choline is saturable with Michaelis-Menten constants (K(m)) of 68microM and 130microM in TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2 respectively. Choline uptake in the cells was inhibited by unlabeled choline and hemicholinium-3 as well as various organic cations including guanidine, amiloride and acetylcholine. However, the prototypical organic cation tetraethylammonium and cimetidine showed very little inhibitory effect of choline uptake in TR-TBT cells. RT-PCR revealed that choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) and organic cation transporter 2 (OCT2) are expressed in TR-TBT cells. The transport properties of choline in TR-TBT cells were similar or identical to that of CTL1 but not OCT2. CTL1 was also detected in human placenta. In addition, several cationic drugs such as diphenhydramine and verapamil competitively inhibited choline uptake in TR-TBT 18d-1 with K(i) of 115microM and 55microM, respectively. Our results suggest that choline transport system, which has intermediate affinity and weakly Na(+) dependent, in TR-TBT seems to occur through a CTL1 and this system may have relevance with the uptake of pharmacologically important organic cation drugs.

Characterization of the mechanism of zidovudine uptake by rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell line TR-TBT

PURPOSE

To characterize the uptake mechanism of zidovudine (AZT), a nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, in syncytiotrophoblast cells using the TR-TBT 18d-1 cell line previously established by our group.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The effects of several transporter inhibitors on the initial and steady-state apical uptake of AZT by TR-TBT 18d-1 were characterized, in order to identify the transporter(s) involved.

RESULTS

Initial uptake of AZT was sodium-independent and saturable; the K(m) value was about 16 microM. Nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBMPR), probenecid and cimetidine each had little effect on the saturable AZT uptake, indicating that well characterized transporters, such as organic anion transporters (OATs and OATPs), organic cation transporters (OCTs) and equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs), are not involved. However, thymidine and 2'-deoxyuridine strongly inhibited AZT uptake. These results suggest that an unidentified nucleoside uptake transporter is responsible for the uptake of AZT. Cyclosporin A, Ko143 and probenecid had little effect on AZT accumulation by TR-TBT 18d-1 cells, suggesting that transporter-mediated efflux of AZT is not substantial.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that saturable AZT uptake into TR-TBT 18d-1 is mediated by a so-far-unidentified transporter.

Potential of various drugs to inhibit nucleoside uptake in rat syncytiotrophoblast cell line, TR-TBT 18d-1

The placenta requires nucleosides as nutrients for fetal growth, so it is important to examine potential interactions between placental transports of nucleosides and drugs to ensure the safety of pharmacotherapy during pregnancy. The purposes of this study are to clarify the uptake mechanisms of nucleosides from the maternal side of the syncytiotrophoblast and to investigate the inhibitory effect of various drugs on nucleoside uptake, using the rat syncytiotrophoblast cell line TR-TBT 18d-1, which shows syncytial-like morphology and functional expression of several transporters. Initial uptake of [(3)H]uridine or [(3)H]adenosine from the apical side of TR-TBT 18d-1 was markedly reduced by an excess of the respective unlabelled compound, and was slightly reduced by replacement of Na(+) with N-methyl-d-glucamine, indicating that both uptakes were Na(+)-independent. [(3)H]Uridine and [(3)H]adenosine uptakes in the absence of Na(+) were significantly and concentration-dependently inhibited by both 0.1 microM and 100 microM nitrobenzylthioinosine, suggesting the involvement of equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs, SLC29). Kinetic analysis of adenosine uptake yielded a K(m) value of approximately 17 microM. These results are consistent with the reported uptake characteristics of uridine and adenosine by ENT1 and ENT2. The uptakes were significantly reduced by high concentrations of several nucleoside drugs, including cytarabine, vidarabine, zidovudine, mizoribine, caffeine and amitriptyline, but the effects were small within the therapeutic concentration ranges. In summary, our results suggest that ENTs are involved in apical uptake of uridine and adenosine in the syncytiotrophoblast. However, therapeutic concentrations of the drugs tested in this study might have little influence on maternal-to-fetal nucleoside transfer.

The immortalized cell lines with differentiation potentials: their establishment and possible application

Approximately 200 types of the cells are qualified as differentiated cells in the human body. If these different types of cells can be separated from each other (or cloned) and obtained in sufficient quantity, it will be beneficial for studying development, morphogenesis, tissue maintenance, cancer and aging, and for reconstructing functional tissues in vitro for regenerative medicine. We produced the transgenic mouse and rat harboring SV40 T-antigen gene to make the immortalized cell lines in the primary tissue culture and succeeded in establishing many functionally active cell lines from various tissues. Many immortalized cell lines from various tissues are shown to exhibit the unique characteristics of tissue functions and they should be useful as an in vitro model of various tissues for physiological and pharmacological investigations. Future application of these cells to drug screening is discussed.

Establishment and characterization of conditionally immortalized endothelial cell lines from the thoracic duct and inferior vena cava of tsA58/EGFP double-transgenic rats

The basic biology of blood vascular endothelial cells has been well documented. However, little is known about that of lymphatic endothelial cells, despite their importance under normal and pathological conditions. The lack of a lymphatic endothelial cell line has hampered progress in this field. The objective of this study has been to establish and characterize lymphatic and venous endothelial cell lines derived from newly developed tsA58/EGFP transgenic rats harboring the temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 (SV40) large T-antigen and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Endothelial cells were isolated from the transgenic rats by intraluminal enzymatic digestion. The cloned cell lines were named TR-LE (temperature-sensitive rat lymphatic endothelial cells from thoracic duct) and TR-BE (temperature-sensitive rat blood-vessel endothelial cells from inferior vena cava), respectively, and cultured on fibronectin-coated dishes in HuMedia-EG2 supplemented with 20% fetal bovine serum and Endothelial Mitogen at a permissive temperature, 33 degrees C. A temperature shift to 37 degrees C resulted in a decrease in proliferation with degradation of the large T-antigen and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. TR-LE cells expressed lymphatic endothelial markers VEGFR-3 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor), LYVE-1 (a lymphatic endothelial receptor), Prox-1 (a homeobox gene product), and podoplanin (a glomerular podocyte membrane mucoprotein), together with endothelial markers CD31, Tie-2, and VEGFR-2, whereas TR-BE cells expressed CD31, Tie-2, and VEGFR-2, but no lymphatic endothelial markers. Thus, these conditionally immortalized and EGFP-expressing lymphatic and vascular endothelial cell lines might represent an important tool for the study of endothelial cell functions in vitro.

Functional and molecular characterization of adenosine transport at the rat inner blood–retinal barrier

The purpose of the present study was to characterize the adenosine transport system(s) at the inner blood-retinal barrier (inner BRB). A conditionally immortalized rat retinal capillary endothelial cell line (TR-iBRB2), used as an in vitro model of the inner BRB, expresses equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1), ENT2, concentrative nucleoside transporter 2 (CNT2), and CNT3 mRNAs. TR-iBRB2 cells exhibited an Na+-independent and concentration-dependent [3H]adenosine uptake with a Michaelis-Menten constant of 28.5 microM and a maximum uptake rate of 814 pmol/(min mg protein). [3H]Adenosine uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells was strongly inhibited by 2 mM adenosine, inosine, uridine, and thymidine. On the other hand, this process was not inhibited by 100 nM nitrobenzylmercaptopurine riboside and dipyridamole. These uptake studies suggest that ENT2 is involved in [3H]adenosine uptake by TR-iBRB2 cells. Quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the expression of ENT2 mRNA is 5.5-fold greater than that of ENT1 mRNA. An in vivo study suggested that [3H]adenosine is transported from the blood to the retina and significantly inhibited by adenosine and thymidine. The results of this study show that ENT2 most likely mediates adenosine transport at the inner BRB and is expected to play an important role in regulating the adenosine concentration in the retina.

Comparison of transgene expression mediated by several Fiber-modified adenovirus vectors in trophoblast cells

The transfer of genes of interest is a useful method for studying placental biology. Recombinant adenovirus (Ad) vector is an efficient vector for transgene expression. An interaction between the fiber of Ad and the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor on the cell membrane is the first step in infection. We previously developed fiber-modified Ad vectors and showed that they improved transgene activity in several cell lines when compared to wild-type vector. In the present study, we examined the ability of three fiber-modified Ad vectors to transduce human choriocarcinoma cell lines (JEG-3, JAR and BeWo) and rat trophoblast cell lines (Rcho-1, TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2). We compared the transgene efficacy of wild-type Ad-L2 vector, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 vector containing an Arg-Gly-Asp motif, Ad-K7(C)-L2 vector containing a 7-tandem lysine motif, and Ad-RGD(HI)K7(C)-L2 vector containing both motifs in the fiber. We used the luciferase gene as a reporter gene. In the human and rodent trophoblast cell lines, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 had the greatest infectious potential, followed by Ad-RGD(HI)K7(C)-L2, Ad-K7(C)-L2 and Ad-L2. Compared to the amount of luciferase produced by wild-type vector, Ad-RGD(HI)-L2 mediated 8.1-fold the amount of luciferase in JEG-3 cells, 13.5-fold in JAR cells, 76.8-fold in BeWo cells, 5.0-fold in Rcho-1, 19.4-fold in TR-TBT 18d-1 and 15.0-fold in TR-TBT 18d-2. These results indicate that Ad-RGD(HI) is a potential recombinant Ad vector for transgene expression in some trophoblast cell lines.

Conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines as new tools for study of the blood-placenta barrier

Syncytiotrophoblasts play an essential role in restriction of drug delivery through the blood-placenta barrier (BPB). Conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines, TR-TBTs, were established at gestational day 18 from pregnant transgenic rats (Tg-rats) harboring the temperature-sensitive SV 40 (ts SV40) large T-antigen. TR-TBTs exhibit temperature-sensitive cell growth due to the expression of SV 40 large T-antigen, and thus the cell growth can be regulated by changing the culture temperature. TR-TBTs exhibit typical properties of syncytiotrophoblast cells, such as syncytium-like morphology, the expression of cytokeratins and hormones, and polarized expression of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and GLUT3. TR-TBTs express in vivo influx and efflux transporters, such as taurine transporter (TauT), betaine/GABA transporter (BGT-1), amino acid transporter 2 (ATA2), organic anion transporting polypeptide 2 (oatp2), organic cation/carnitine transporter (OCTN2), P-glycoprotein (P-gp), and breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP/ABCG2). Moreover, TR-TBTs exhibit taurine, GABA, and DHEA-S uptake activity via TauT, BGT-1, and oatp2, respectively. Therefore, TR-TBTs can be used for the analysis of these functions and would be a good in vitro models for investigating carrier-mediated transport functions at the BPB.

Expression profiles of zinc transporters in rodent placental models

Zinc is a vital metal that is a structural and functional component of many proteins. The precise mechanism of zinc transport in the placenta remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the expression of zinc transporters (ZnTs) in the mouse placenta and in two rat trophoblast cell lines, TR-TBT cells, which are syncytiotrophoblast cells of the labyrinth zone, and Rcho-1 cells, which retain trophoblast cell features and differentiate into trophoblast giant cells of the junctional zone. All of the ZnTs that have been identified in mice (ZnT1-7) were detected in the mouse placenta by RT-PCR. The expression profiles of ZnTs in the placenta during pregnancy were different. The mRNA levels of ZnTs, with the exception of ZnT7, did not change during pregnancy. The ZnT7 mRNA level in placenta was elevated during pregnancy. In TR-TBT cells, ZnT1, ZnT3 and ZnT4 were detected by RT-PCR analysis. In Rcho-1 cells, all of the ZnTs that have been identified in rats (ZnT1-4) were detected by RT-PCR analysis. There were no differences between the mRNA expression levels of ZnT family members in undifferentiated Rcho-1 cells and differentiated Rcho-1 cells. This is the first report of expression profiles of ZnTs during differentiation of the placenta in the mouse placenta and rat placental cell models.

New approaches to in vitro models of blood-brain barrier drug transport

The pharmaceutical industry has been searching for an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model that preserves in vivo transporter functions in CNS drug discovery and development. The application of conditionally immortalized cell lines derived from transgenic animals harboring temperature-sensitive SV40 large T-antigen gene, is a rational and promising approach to such a workable in vitro BBB model. The established brain capillary endothelial cell lines retain the in vivo transport rate of several compounds and various forms of gene expression. Furthermore, this new approach has enabled the development of stable and reproducible co-culture models with a pericyte cell line and/or an astrocyte cell line.