Effect of preeclampsia serum on human uterine spiral artery smooth muscle cell apoptosis in a coculture model with cytotrophoblasts

Abstract

Background/aims: To investigate cytotrophoblast (CTB) invasive ability and human uterine spiral artery smooth muscle cell (HUSASMC) apoptosis in a coculture model with serum from preeclamptic pregnancies.

Methods: Transwell migration assay was used to detect the invasive ability of CTBs. Cocultured CTBs and HUSASMCs were incubated with normal or preeclamptic serum for 24 h. Monocultures of CTBs and HUSASMCs were treated identically to the cocultures and served as controls. HUSASMC viability and apoptosis rates were determined by MTT and annexin V-FITC assays. The expressions of Fas ligand (FasL) mRNA in CTBs and Fas mRNA in HUSASMCs were detected by RT-PCR. The expression of the Fas protein in HUSASMCs was detected by Western blotting.

Results: In a model of CTBs cocultured with HUSASMCs, preeclamptic serum effectively decreased the invasive ability and FasL mRNA expression of the CTBs. Preeclampsia serum also increased HUSASMC viability, decreased their apoptotic rate, and decreased the expression of Fas mRNA and protein.

Conclusion: The abnormal invasive ability of CTBs and decreased expression of the Fas/FasL system may be directly involved in the defective remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries during preeclampsia. Furthermore, the decrease in HUSASMC apoptosis may be related to the abnormal expression of Fas/FasL.