Suppression of FPR2 expression inhibits inflammation in preeclampsia by improving the biological functions of trophoblast via NF-κB pathway

• Published in: Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics Vol. 39; no. 1; pp. 239 - 250
• Main Authors: Li, Shuxian, Li, Anna, Zhai, Liping, Sun, Yaqiong, Yu, Ling, Fang, Zhenya, Zhang, Lin, Peng, Yanjie, Zhang, Meihua, Wang, Xietong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Angiogenesis; Apoptosis; Cell activation; Cell migration; Cell Movement - drug effects; Cell proliferation; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cytokines; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Female; Flow cytometry; Gene Expression - physiology; Gynecology; Human Genetics; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation - physiopathology; Inflammation - prevention & control; Lipopolysaccharides; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; NF-kappa B - antagonists & inhibitors; NF-κB protein; Patients; Placenta; Pre-eclampsia; Pre-Eclampsia - drug therapy; Pre-Eclampsia - physiopathology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Receptors, Formyl Peptide - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, Formyl Peptide - genetics; Receptors, Lipoxin - antagonists & inhibitors; Receptors, Lipoxin - genetics; Reproductive Medicine; Reproductive Physiology and Disease; Signal transduction; siRNA; Transfection; Trophoblasts; Trophoblasts - metabolism; Western blotting; Wound healing; WRW4; NF-κB; Inflammation; FPR2; Preeclampsia
• ISSN: 1058-0468; 1573-7330
• DOI: 10.1007/s10815-022-02395-2

Purpose The dysfunction of trophoblast during inflammation plays an important role in PE. Formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) plays crucial roles in the development of inflammation-associated disease. This present study aimed to explore the effect of FPR2 on a trophoblast cellular model of preeclampsia. Methods The expression of FPR2 in placenta was detected by immunohistochemical staining and western blotting. Transfection of siRNA was used to knockdown FPR2 in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Inflammatory cytokines were detected by ELISA. CCK8, Transwell, wound healing, FACS and tube formation assays were performed to observe the abilities of cell proliferation, migration, invasion, apoptosis and angiogenesis. Western blotting was implemented to clarify that NF-κB signaling pathway was downstream of FPR2. Results The expression levels of FPR2 were higher in placental tissues of patients with PE. Knockdown of FPR2 expression by si FPR2 or inhibition of its activity by WRW4 decreased the release of proinflammatory cytokines in HTR8/SVneo cells treated with LPS. Knockdown of FPR2 expression or inhibition of its activity further reversed the LPS-induced attenuation of the proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis and increase in apoptosis in HTR8/SVneo cells. Moreover, the NF-κB signaling pathway was activated in both placental tissues of patients with PE and LPS-treated HTR8/SVneo cells. However, the activation was attenuated when FPR2 was knocked down or inhibited. Conclusion Suppression of FPR2 expression alleviated the effects of inflammation induced by LPS on trophoblasts via the NF-κB signaling pathway, which provided a novel and potential strategy for the treatment of PE.