Study on the Correlation between the Levels of HtrA3 and TGF-β2 in Late Pregnancy and Preeclampsia

Integrated analysis of DNA methylation and transcriptome profiles to identify oxidative stress-related placenta-specific molecules for preeclampsia

BACKGROUND

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific hypertensive disorder and one of the leading causes of maternal mortality. However, its etiology and pathogenesis are not yet fully clarified. This study aimed to uncover methylation-regulated oxidative stress-related placenta-specific molecules in PE.

METHODS

Two PE datasets, GSE57767 and GSE25906, were subjected into this study. The oxidative stress-related genes were derived from GeneCards database. Differential methylation and expression analysis were applied to identify methylation-regulated oxidative stress-related genes in PE. The methylation-regulated oxidative stress-related placenta-specific molecules were determined by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The single-gene gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were executed using the R "clusterProfiler." The transcription factor (TF)-gene regulatory network of placenta-specific molecules was created through Network Analyst database and Cytoscape software. The drug-gene network of placenta-specific molecules were developed through DGIdb database and Cytoscape software. Eventually, we further examined biomarker expression trends in the collected clinical samples using real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR).

RESULTS

A total of 13 methylation-regulated oxidative stress-related genes in PE were identified. Then, five genes (VIM, SNCA, PIK3CG, DNM2, and BMP6) were authenticated as methylation-regulated oxidative stress-related placenta-specific molecules in PE by ROC curves, suggesting a potential clinical diagnostic value. Single-gene GSEA pointed to the linkage of these five genes to the immune-related pathways, ferroptosis, and oxidative phosphorylation. Finally, a TF-gene regulatory network containing 32 nodes and 38 edges and a drug-gene network containing 126 nodes and 123 edges were generated based on methylation-regulated oxidative stress-related placenta-specific molecules in PE. Ultimately, the experimental results confirmed that the expression trends of VIM, PIK3CG, and BMP6 in our collected clinical samples were in line with the expression trends in the GSE25906 dataset.

CONCLUSION

Three genes, VIM, PIK3CG, and BMP6, were identified as methylation-regulated oxidative stress-related placenta-specific molecules in PE. This might have helped to understand the pathogenesis of the disease and might also have provided new perspectives on the diagnosis and treatment of PE.

Elevated 12,13-diHOME level in maternal and umbilical cord blood complicated with preeclampsia

Background

Preeclampsia (PE) is a condition in pregnancy characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, thus leading to severe complications for both mother and fetus, including fetal growth restriction (FGR). However, there are still unclear aspects regarding the pathogenesis, prevention, and treatments. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of lipid metabolism in maternal and umbilical cord plasma complicated with PE using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS).

Method

The study included singleton pregnant women at Osaka Metropolitan University Hospital from March 2023 to February 2024. PE was diagnosed based on new-onset hypertension after 20 weeks of gestation and other symptoms such as proteinuria and organ dysfunction. FGR was defined by ultrasound measurements below -1.5 standard deviation (SD). Plasma samples were collected from maternal and umbilical cord blood within 24 hours before delivery. Lipid metabolites were comprehensively analyzed using LC-MS, and the lipokine 12,13-diHOME, identified as elevated in the comprehensive analysis, was quantified. Immunohistochemistry was conducted on placental samples to assess soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) expression.

Results

The study involved 31 participants, with 20 in the control group and 11 in the PE group. A comprehensive analysis of maternal plasma samples identified a significant increase in 12,13-diHOME levels in the PE group compared to the control group. Quantification of 12,13-diHOME showed a significant increase in maternal plasma, umbilical venous plasma, and umbilical arterial plasma in the PE group compared to the control group (p = 0.007, p = 0.008, p = 0.005). PE with FGR showed significantly higher 12,13-diHOME concentrations in the umbilical arterial/venous ratio compared to the PE without FGR group (p = 0.03). Negative correlations were observed between 12,13-diHOME levels and birth weight in the PE group. Immunohistochemistry did not show significant differences in the sEH expression between the groups.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that 12,13-diHOME levels were significantly elevated in maternal and umbilical cord blood in PE patients, particularly in PE with FGR. Elevated 12,13-diHOME may reflect the progression of placental ischemia due to PE pathogenesis. This lipid metabolite could serve as a marker for the severity of preeclampsia, thus providing new insights into perinatal lipidomics and the potential role of 12,13-diHOME in PE.

Shortwave radiation-induced reproductive organ damage in male rats by enhanced expression of molecules associated with the calpain/Cdk5 pathway and oxidative stress

Shortwave radiation has been reported to have harmful effects on several organs in humans and animals. However, the biological effects of 27 MHz shortwave on the reproductive system are not clear. In this study, we investigated the effects of shortwave whole-body exposure at a frequency of 27 MHz on structural and functional changes in the testis. Male Wistar rats were exposed to 27 MHz continuous shortwaves at average power densities of 0, 5, 10, or 30 mW/cm2 for 6 min. The levels of insulin-like factor 3 (INSL3) and anti-sperm antibodies (AsAb) in the peripheral serum, sperm motility, sperm malformation rate, and testicular tissue structure of rats were analyzed. Furthermore, the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, calpain, and Cdk5 expression were analyzed at 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after exposure. We observed that the rats after radiation had decreased serum INSL3 levels (p < 0.01), increased AsAb levels (p < 0.05), decreased percentage of class A+B sperm (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), increased sperm malformation (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), injured testicular tissue structure, decreased SOD and CAT activities (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05), increased MDA content (p < 0.01), and testicular tissue expressions of calpain1, calpain2, and Cdk5 were increased (p < 0.01 or p < 0.05). In conclusion, Shortwave radiation caused functional and structural damage to the reproductive organs of male rats. Furthermore, oxidative stress and key molecules in the calpain/Cdk5 pathway are likely involved in this process.

Hsa_circ_0001326 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells via miR-145-5p/TGFB2 axis

PROBLEM

Preeclampsia (PE) is an obstetric disease involving multiple systems, which account for maternal and fetal complications and increased mortality. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) were recently deemed to associate with the pathogenesis of PE. This study aims to clarify the correlation between circRNA hsa_circ_0001326 and PE and explore its biological function in PE.

METHOD OF STUDY

The expression of hsa_circ_0001326 in PE placentas was detected by real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). After overexpressing or inhibiting hsa_circ_0001326 in trophoblast cells, the cell growth, migration, and invasion were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and transwell assays. Western blot assay was applied to detect the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) proteins, E-cadherin and Vimentin. Furthermore, a dual-luciferase reporter assay was applied to verify the binding sites of hsa_circ_0001326, miR-145-5p, and transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGFB2).

RESULTS

Hsa_circ_0001326 was found to be higher expressed in PE placentas than in normal placentas. Furthermore, hsa_circ_0001326 played a negative regulating role in trophoblast cell viability, migration, and invasion. Overexpression of hsa_circ_0001326 inhibited the viability, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells, while inhibition of hsa_circ_0001326 showed opposite effects. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0001326 sponged miR-145-5p to elevate TGFB2 expression in trophoblast cells.

CONCLUSION

This study provided evidence that the up-regulated hsa_circ_0001326 in PE restrained trophoblast cells proliferation, migration, and invasion by sponging miR-145-5p to elevate TGFB2 expression. Our results might provide a novel insight into the role of hsa_circ_0001326 in the pathogenesis of PE.