Relationship between Fas and Fas Ligand gene polymorphisms and pre-eclampsia

Role of B7H4 and Fas in regulation of trophoblast cells and development of pre-eclampsia: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the role of B7H4 and Fas in pre-eclampsia (PE) occurrence and development and reveal its potential mechanisms.

METHODS

Thirty healthy individuals and 60 patients with PE were enrolled in the study. In addition, the clinical characteristics of all participants were collected, including age, gestational weeks at delivery, gestational time, number of births, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and foetal weight. The chi-square test was used to evaluate differences in clinical characteristics between the high- and low-expression groups. The expression levels of B7H4 and Fas were analysed using western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The upstream regulators of B7H4 in trophoblasts were predicted and estimated using a luciferase reporter assay. The proliferation and motility of trophoblasts were assessed using CCK8 and transwell assays, respectively.

RESULTS

B7H4 and Fas were upregulated in PE (p < 0.05) and showed diagnostic potential with insufficient sensitivity and specificity [B7H4: area under curve (AUC) = 0.790, sensitivity = 65%, specificity = 83.33%; Fas: AUC = 0.717, sensitivity = 68.34%, specificity = 73.33%]. B7H4 and Fas were closely associated with increased blood pressure in patients with PE (p < 0.05), and the combination of B7H4 and Fas increased the diagnostic efficacy (AUC = 0.864), sensitivity (73.33%) and specificity (86.67%). In trophoblast cells, miR-4319 negatively regulated B7H4 and Fas expression as well as cell proliferation, migration and invasion (p < 0.05). Overexpression of B7H4 alleviated the inhibitory effects of miR-4319, which were reversed by Fas knockdown (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

miR-4319 mediates the progression of trophoblast progression by negatively regulating the expression of B7H4 and Fas. Therefore, B7H4 and Fas may serve as potential biomarkers for the prediction and treatment of PE.

Preeclampsia: From Cellular Wellness to Inappropriate Cell Death, and the Roles of Nutrition

Preeclampsia is one of the most common obstetrical complications worldwide. The pathomechanism of this disease begins with abnormal placentation in early pregnancy, which is associated with inappropriate decidualization, vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, and spiral artery remodeling, leading to endothelial dysfunction. In these processes, appropriate cellular deaths have been proposed to play a pivotal role, including apoptosis and autophagy. The proper functioning of these physiological cell deaths for placentation depends on the wellbeing of the trophoblasts, affected by the structural and functional integrity of each cellular component including the cell membrane, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, genetics, and epigenetics. This cellular wellness, which includes optimal cellular integrity and function, is heavily influenced by nutritional adequacy. In contrast, nutritional deficiencies may result in the alteration of plasma membrane, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and changes in gene expression, DNA methylation, and miRNA expression, as well as weakened defense against environmental contaminants, hence inducing a series of inappropriate cellular deaths such as abnormal apoptosis and necrosis, and autophagy dysfunction and resulting in abnormal trophoblast invasion. Despite their inherent connection, the currently available studies examined the functions of each organelle, the cellular death mechanisms and the nutrition involved, both physiologically in the placenta and in preeclampsia, separately. Therefore, this review aims to comprehensively discuss the relationship between each organelle in maintaining the physiological cell death mechanisms and the nutrition involved, and the interconnection between the disruptions in the cellular organelles and inappropriate cell death mechanisms, resulting in poor trophoblast invasion and differentiation, as seen in preeclampsia.

Serum Levels of Soluble Fas and Fas Ligand in Iranian Women with Pre-eclampsia

Background

The precise responsible mechanism of pre-eclampsia remains controversial however, recent data suggest a main role of the abnormal activation of the adaptive immune system and Apoptosis. In this study, we have measured serum levels of Fas/Fasl as two important members of extrinsic apoptotic pathway in patient with pre-eclampsia.

Methods

207 participants including 99 pre-eclampsia patients and 108 age and sex-matched normal pregnant women were involved in the case-control study. Plasma sample from each participant was collected and stored at -20 °C until batch processing.Serum levels of Fas and Fas ligand were measured by ELISA for each participant including 99 pre-eclampsia patients and 108 normal pregnant women. Following a test of statistical normality, nonparametric data were analyzed by Mann-Whitney.

Results

sFas levels in case group was significantly higher than controls; 584 (397-892) pg/ml in cases opposed to 341 (213-602) pg/ml in controls (p value< 0.01). sFasL in pre-eclampsia women was a little lower than controls; 255 (173-318) pg/ml and in case group compared to 265.5 (184-381.5) pg/ml in controls.

Conclusion

We have found the increased levels of sFas in patients with pre-eclampsia in compare with the healthy pregnant women. It seems that abnormality in sFAS is related with pre-eclampsia.

FAS gene polymorphisms (rs3740286 and rs4064) were not associated with pre-eclampsia risk

Pre-eclampsia results in real risk and significant impact on indicators related to maternal and child health. The only known treatment is delivery of the fetus and placenta. Despite intensive research, the causes of PE remain to be elucidated. It is suggested that pre-eclampsia is caused by a global maternal inflammatory response to a damaged placenta. Besides inflammation, cytotoxic and apoptotic mechanisms are also implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Considering the importance of apoptosis to pre-eclampsia genesis, the aim of this study was to determine the frequencies of the genotypes for FAS gene polymorphisms (rs3740286 and rs4064) and to associate these with pre-eclampsia development. Women with and without pre-eclampsia were investigated. Accordingly, peripheral blood was collected, and DNA extracted, followed by genotyping using Real-time PCR with hydrolysis probe. The results showed no association between genotypes and pre-eclampsia development for both polymorphisms studied (χ2=3.39; p=.177, for rs3740286 and χ2=0.119; p=.94 for rs4064). Women with familiar history of pre-eclampsia and primiparity showed more probability to develop the condition, by multiple logistic regression analysis (OR=8.61, CI=3.39-21.86, p<0.0001; OR=6.64. CI=2.94-14.99, p<0.0001, respectively). It seems that FAS gene polymorphisms (rs3740286 and rs4064) might not be important candidates for the development of pre-eclampsia.

The role of FAS, FAS-L, BAX, and BCL-2 gene polymorphisms in determining susceptibility to unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss

PURPOSE

Idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a multifactorial reproductive disorder where an impaired control of apoptosis is likely involved. Triggering the cell death mechanism occurs in a spatiotemporal manner and is strongly related to a healthy pregnancy. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the regulatory regions of genes are known to influence the expression patterns of apoptosis-related molecules.

METHODS

A total of 296 unrelated female Brazilian patients were evaluated for clinical-demographic variables and genetic factors: 140 women who had experienced an unexplained RPL (with at least two consecutive abortions) and 156 healthy multiparous women. In all patients, six SNPs were evaluated in genes of apoptosis-related pathways: FAS (rs2234767, rs1800682), FAS-L (rs763110, rs5030772), BAX (rs4645878), and BCL-2 (rs2279115) by PCR followed by a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-based analysis.

RESULTS

The BAX-248GA genotype is independently associated with idiopathic RPL [adjusted OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.13-0.70, P = 0.005] susceptibility. In the same multivariate model, the variables ethnicity, smoking, and alcohol consumption were statistically associated with RPL susceptibility (P < 0.05). No association with RPL susceptibility was reported for the remaining SNPs.

CONCLUSION

Our study is the first to evaluate the role of the main SNPs from both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways in RPL susceptibility. The association of BAX-248G/A with RPL susceptibility suggests that maternal predisposition for RPL has an essential contribution from genes involved in the delicate balance of endometrium cell turnover (cell death/proliferation). Therefore, apoptotic genes may represent promising targets for future studies on healthy pregnancies and the spectrum of pregnancy disorders.

The relationship between Fas and Fas ligand gene polymorphism and preeclampsia risk

Preeclampsia is an idiopathic multisystem disorder with partial genetic and immunological etiology. Several studies investigated the association between various single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) genes and the risk of preeclampsia. However, they achieved inconsistent results. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis by systematically searching the Cochrane Library, PubMed and Embase databases and assessed this association by calculating pooled odds ratios with 95% confidence interval to reach a more trustworthy conclusion. Subgroup analyses by genotype methods and source of controls (SOC) were also conducted. Seven citations containing nine studies were included for four SNPs (Fas -670 A/G, FasL 124A/G, FasL -844C/T, Fas -1377 G/A) in this meta-analysis. Our data suggested the G allele and genotype GG of the Fas -670 A/G polymorphism, GG genotype of the FasL 124A/G polymorphism, and TT genotype of the FasL -844C/T polymorphism increased the risk of preeclampsia. Stratification analyses by genotype methods and SOC also indicated that Fas -670 A/G polymorphism was related to increased risk for preeclampsia. In conclusion, Fas and FasL gene polymorphisms play important roles in the development of preeclampsia. Further well-designed studies in other races are needed to confirm the findings of this meta-analysis.

FAS A-670G and Fas ligand IVS2nt A 124G polymorphisms are significantly increased in women with pre-eclampsia and may contribute to HELLP syndrome: a case-controlled study

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the association between the Fas-670A/G and the Fas ligand FasL IVS2nt 124 A/G polymorphisms and the risk of pre-eclampsia and its complications.

DESIGN

A case-controlled study.

SETTING

University Hospitals in most areas of Tunisia.

POPULATION

We recruited 300 pregnant women who developed pre-eclampsia and 300 age-matched healthy pregnant women from the same hospital.

METHODS

Genotyping of Fas-670A/G and the FasL IVS2nt 124A/G gene polymorphisms were conducted using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism among our cohort.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Fisher's exact test was used to compare the statistical differences between groups for categorical variables and Student t tests were used for continuous variables.

RESULTS

The frequency of the Fas-670G gene variant was significantly increased in women with pre-eclampsia (42%) compared with control women (30%; P < 0.001). Also, a statistically significant difference was obtained in the distribution of the FasL IVS2nt 124G gene variant when comparing women with pre-eclampsia (43%) with controls (30%; P < 0.001). Interestingly, we found that the carriage of Fas-670G was associated with increased liver enzymes, suggesting an increased prevalence of the haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome, a pre-eclampsia complication.

CONCLUSION

The Fas-670G and FasL IVS2nt 124G polymorphisms are associated with a higher risk of pre-eclampsia and its complications.

TWEETABLE ABSTRACT

Polymorphisms in the Fas and FasL genes are associated with increased risk of pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome.

Deciphering transcriptional regulation in human embryonic stem cells specified towards a trophoblast fate

Differentiated human embryonic stem cells (hESC) continue to provide a model for studying early trophoblast cells (TB), but many questions have been raised regarding their true identity. Therefore, we carried out a global and unbiased analysis on previously published transcriptomic profiles for hESC differentiated to TB by means of bone morphogenetic protein-4 and inhibitors of activin A and fibroblast growth factor-2 signaling (BAP treatment). Our results confirm that BAP treated hESC (ESCd) lack a mesoderm signature and are a subtype of placental cells unlike those present at term. ESCd display a high level of expression of genes implicated in migration and invasion compared to commonly used, immortalized TB cell lines and primary cells from term placenta. Co-expression network analysis also identified gene modules involved in cell migration and adhesion, processes that are likely critical during the beginning stages of placentation. Finally, protein-protein interaction analysis predicted several additional genes that may play important roles in early stages of placental development. Together, our analyses provide novel insights into the transcriptional programs that are active in ESCd.