Abstract:

Objective · To investigate the effects of a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) inhibitor SB203580 on biological function changes of human extravillous trophoblast cells induced by hypoxia/re-oxygenation (H/R). Methods · In-vitro cultured early pregnancy villus explants and human extravillous trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo were assigned to 4 groups according to different interventions, i.e. control group, SB203580 group (p38 MAPK inhibition), H/R group (simulation of preeclampsia by the oxidative stress model), and SB203580+H/R group. The effects of SB203580 on biological functions of human extravillous trophoblast cells under oxidative stress in early pregnancy villus explants were observed. Protein expression and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in HTR8/SVneo cells were measured with Western blotting. Cell migration and invasion were observed with Transwell migration and Matrigel invasion assay, respectively. Gelatin zymography was used to measure the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -2/9 in supernatant. ELISA was used to detect the levels of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin (sEng). Results · SB203580 could promote the exogenous migration of human extravillous trophoblast cells in early pregnancy villus explants under oxidative stress. H/R could decrease the migration and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells , and increase the phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK in HTR8/SVneo cells and the secretion of sFlt-1 and sEng. SB203580 could increase the activity of MMP2/9 in supernatant and cell migration and invasion, decrease the phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK in HTR8/SVneo cells under oxidative stress and the secretion of sFlt-1 and sEng. Conclusion · SB203580 can protect biological functions of human extravillous trophobalst cells under oxidative stress.

Key words: p38 MAPK, SB203580, extravillous trophoblast cells, oxidative stress