JPT2 Affects Trophoblast Functions and Macrophage Polarization and Metabolism, and Acts as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion.

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a pregnancy-related condition with complex etiology. Trophoblast dysfunction and abnormal macrophage polarization and metabolism are associated with RSA; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Jupiter microtubule-associated homolog 2 (JPT2) is essential for calcium mobilization; however, its role in RSA remains unclear. In this study, it is found that the expression levels of JPT2, a nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate-binding protein, are decreased in the villous tissues of patients with RSA and placental tissues of miscarried mice. Mechanistically, it is unexpectedly found that abnormal JPT2 expression regulates trophoblast function and thus involvement in RSA via c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling, but not via calcium mobilization. Specifically, on the one hand, JPT2 deficiency inhibits trophoblast adhesion, migration, and invasion by inhibiting the JNK/atypical chemokine receptor 3 axis. On the other hand, trophoblast JPT2 deficiency contributes to M1 macrophage polarization by promoting the accumulation of citrate and reactive oxygen species via inhibition of the JNK/interleukin-6 axis. Self-complementary adeno-associated virus 9-JPT2 treatment alleviates embryonic resorption in abortion-prone mice. In summary, this study reveals that JPT2 mediates the remodeling of the immune microenvironment at the maternal-fetal interface, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target for RSA.

FKBP5 regulates trophoblast-macrophage crosstalk in recurrent spontaneous abortion through PI3K/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways.

FK506-binding protein 5 (FKBP5) contributes to many diseases; However, it remains unclear whether FKBP5 is relevant to recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) and the mechanisms by which it is involved in maternal-fetal immunological tolerance. Placental tissue was collected in women with normal pregnancy and RSA and examined for FKBP5 expression. Human trophoblast cell lines and THP-1-derived M0 macrophages were used to explore the role of FKBP5 in RSA and its mechanism. The role of FKBP5 on pregnancy outcomes was assessed using a mouse model of miscarriage. This study found that upregulation of FKBP5 at the placental interface is involved in the pathogenesis of RSA by depressing trophoblast function and promoting M1-type macrophage polarization. First, FKBP5 expression was upregulated in the villi of RSA, and FKBP5 regulated trophoblast function by inhibiting HAPLN1 expression through suppression of PI3K/AKT signaling. In addition, FKBP5 inhibited trophoblast IL-6 secretion by suppressing PI3K/AKT signaling, thereby promoting macrophage polarization toward the M1 phenotype. Meanwhile, FKBP5 was significantly elevated in decidual macrophages from patients with RSA and promoted M1 macrophage polarization via ROS/NF-κB signaling and further inhibited trophoblast function. Finally, FKBP5 inhibitors improved embryo resorption rate in miscarried mice. In conclusion, FKBP5 is essential in maintaining pregnancy and trophoblast-macrophage crosstalk in the maternal-fetal interface, which may be a potential target for diagnosing and treating RSA.

Profilin1 Regulates Trophoblast Invasion and Macrophage Differentiation.

Unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA) has been associated with the dysfunction of trophoblasts and decidual macrophages. Current evidence suggests that profilin1 (PFN1) plays an important role in many biological processes. However, little is known about whether PFN1 is related to URSA. Herein, the location of PFN1 was detected by immunohistochemistry, and the level of PFN1 was detected by quantitative real-time PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The proliferation of trophoblasts was detected by CCK8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assays were used to detect apoptosis of trophoblasts. The migration and invasion ability of trophoblasts was assessed by using the wound-healing test and transwell test. Polarization of macrophages was detected in macrophages cultured in trophoblast conditioned medium. PFN1 expression was observed in cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, and extravillous trophoblasts and was decreased in the villous tissue of patients with URSA. The migration and invasion ability and cell viability of trophoblastic cell lines that underwent PFN1 knockdown significantly decreased, and apoptosis increased. Opposite findings were observed after the overexpression of PFN1 in trophoblastic cells. In addition, PFN1 could regulate trophoblast function through phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT signal transduction rather than mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. Finally, knockdown of PFN1 in trophoblasts promoted tumor necrosis factor-α secretion to induce macrophage polarization to M1 phenotype, mediated by the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings indicate that PFN1 has a broad therapeutic potential for patients with URSA.

Pterostilbene ameliorates oxidative damage and ferroptosis in human ovarian granulosa cells by regulating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

The survival of ovarian granulosa cells is of great significance to the physiological maintenance of the ovary. Oxidative damage to the ovarian granulosa cells can lead to various diseases related to ovarian dysfunction. Pterostilbene exerts many pharmacological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and cardiovascular protective effects. Moreover, pterostilbene was shown to have antioxidant properties. This study aimed to investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of pterostilbene on oxidative damage in ovarian granulosa cells. Ovarian granulosa cell (OGC) lines COV434 and KGN were exposed to H2O2 to establish an oxidative damage model. After treatment with different concentrations of H2O2 or pterostilbene, the cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, oxidative stress, and iron levels were detected, and the expression of ferroptosis-related and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway-related proteins were evaluated. Pterostilbene treatment could effectively improve cell viability, reduce oxidative stress, and inhibit ferroptosis stimulated by H2O2. More importantly, pterostilbene could up-regulate Nrf2 transcription by stimulating histone acetylation, and inhibition of Nrf2 signaling could reverse the therapeutic effect of pterostilbene. In conclusion, this research shows that pterostilbene protects human OGCs from oxidative stress and ferroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.

[Determination of tetrandrine and fangchinoline in Radix Stephaniae tetrandrae and its preparation by nonaqueous capillary chromatography].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a new method for the determination of fangchinoline and tetrandrine in Stephania tetrandra and Fengtongan capsule by noanqueous capillary electrophoresis. METHOD: Separation was carried out in an uncoated fused capillary (50 cm x 75 microm i.d.) with a running buffer containing 50 mmol x L(-1) ammonium acetate, 1.0% acetic acid and 20% acetonitrile in methanol. A separation voltage of 20 kV and a UV detector wavelength at 214 nm were adopted. Sample was introduced from the anode. RESULT: The calibration ranges were 1.00, 500 mg x L(-1) for both analytes. Under the optimum conditions, the relative standard deviation (RSD, n = 6) for the migration time of each analyte were 0.09%, 1.9% (intra-day) and 0.63%, 1.9% (inter-day); The RSD for the peak area of each analyte were 0.45%, 5.9% (intra-day) and 2.3%, 5.6% (inter-day), respectively. The contents of the analytes were determined easily with average recoveries 102% for fangchinoline and 105% for tetrandrine in S. tetrandra and 94.6% for fangchinoline and 98.7% for tetrandrine in Fengtongan capsules, respectively. CONCLUSION: The proposed method is simple, rapid, accurate and higher repeatable, and can be used to control of the quality of S. tetrandra and Fengtongan capsules.