ABSTRACT
Placental trophoblastic cells play important roles in placental development and fetal health. However, the mechanism of trophoblastic cell fusion is still not entirely clear. The level of Tspan5 in the embryo culture medium was detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fusion of BeWo cells was observed by immunofluorescence. Cell fusion-related factors and EMT-related factors were identified by qRT-PCR and western blotting. Notch protein repressor DAPT was used to verify the role of Tspan5 in BeWo cells. The expression of Tspan5 was significantly increased in embryo culture medium. The fusion of BeWo cells was observed after treatment with forskolin (FSK). Cell fusion-related factors (i.e. ß-hCG and syncytin 1/2) and Tspan5 were significantly increased after FSK treatment. In addition, FSK treatment promoted EMT-related protein expression in BeWo cells. Knockdown of Tspan5 inhibited cell fusion and EMT-related protein levels. Notch-1 and Jagged-1 protein levels were significantly upregulated, and the EMT process was activated by overexpression of Tspan5 in FSK-treated BeWo cells. Interestingly, blocking the Notch pathway by the repressor DAPT had the opposite results. These results indicated that Tspan5 could promote the EMT process by activating the Notch pathway, thereby causing cell fusion. These findings contribute to a better understanding of trophoblast cell syncytialization and embryonic development. Tspan5 may be used as a therapeutic target for normal placental development.
Subject(s)
Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors , Trophoblasts , Humans , Female , Pregnancy , Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors/metabolism , Cell Line, Tumor , Placenta , Signal Transduction , Colforsin/metabolism , Colforsin/pharmacology , Cell Fusion/methodsABSTRACT
(+)- and (-)-Spongiterpene [(+)-1 and (-)-1], a pair of new valerenane sesquiterpene enantiomers, along with four known compounds (2-5) were isolated from the marine sponge Spongia sp. The structures of (+)-1 and (-)-1 including absolute configurations were determined by spectroscopic analysis, quantum chemical calculation and X-ray diffraction. Compounds (+)-1 and (-)-1 were the first examples of valerenane sesquiterpenes isolated from the marine sponges. The cytotoxic activities of (+)-1 and (-)-1 were also evaluated.
Subject(s)
Aquatic Organisms/chemistry , Porifera/chemistry , Sesquiterpenes/chemistry , Sesquiterpenes/isolation & purification , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Cell Death/drug effects , Cell Line, Tumor , Stereoisomerism , X-Ray DiffractionABSTRACT
Two new pyrrolidine alkaloids, acanthophoraines B (1) and C (2), together with five known ones (3-7) were isolated from the red alga Acanthophora spicifera. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic methods and single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The absolute configuration of 2 was established by ECD calculation. The antibacterial activities of 1-7 were also evaluated.
Subject(s)
Alkaloids , Anti-Infective Agents , Rhodophyta , Alkaloids/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Crystallography, X-Ray , Molecular Structure , Pyrrolidines/pharmacologyABSTRACT
A new pyrrolidine alkaloid, acanthophoraine A (1), along with six known alkaloids (2-7), had been isolated from the red alga Acanthophora spicifera. The structures of these compounds were identified by spectroscopic analyses. The absolute configuration of 1 was established by ECD calculation. Compound 1 represents the first example of N-isobutyl pyrrolidone with an urea arm. The antimicrobial activity of 1 was also evaluated.[Figure: see text].
