Progress on ferroptosis in pregnancy-related diseases / 中华围产医学杂志

Ferroptosis, a new form of programmed cell death, could be regulated by lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and iron metabolism. Ferroptosis is closely related to human physiological mechanisms and involved in the development and progression of multiple diseases. More and more researchers have found that ferroptosis also plays a vital role in pregnancy-related disorders such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and miscarriage. However, the mechanisms have not yet been fully understood. This article reviews the progress in ferroptosis in pregnancy-related diseases to provide new directions for scientific research and clinical treatment.

Correlation analysis between family function and disease benefit in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / 中国实用护理杂志

Objective:To investigate and analyze the correlation between family function and disease benefit perception among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Methods:A cross-sectional study, convenient sampling method, family function Assessment Scale (APGAR) and disease benefit scale were used to investigate the family function assessment and disease benefit of 172 COPD patients in the respiratory department of Yinchuan First People ′s Hospital from January to April 2021. Results:The total score of family function in COPD patients was (7.74 ± 2.50) points, and the total score of disease benefit was (53.24 ± 7.03) points. There was a positive correlation between family function and disease benefit in COPD patients ( r values were 0.041-0.275, P<0.05). Conclusions:The disease benefit of COPD patients was closely related to family function, and improving the level of family function support can improve the disease benefit of COPD patients.

Bone marrow stromal cell antigen 2(BST2) suppresses the migration and invasion of trophoblasts in preeclampsia by downregulating matrix metallopeptidase 2(MMP2).

Preeclampsia is a grievous pregnancy-related complication with an incidence of approximately 5∼7% in pregnant women. Placental abnormalities and decreased placental perfusion associated with impaired trophoblast invasion are early pathological findings of preeclampsia. BST2 is a multifunctional transmembrane protein that plays critical roles in physiological and pathological processes, but its impacts and mechanisms of action in preeclampsia are inadequately understood. The aim of this manuscript was to investigate the functional impacts of BST2 and MMP2 on the biological behavior of trophoblast cells in preeclampsia. The expression of these proteins and their genes was analyzed by qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the expression of BST2 and MMP2 was significantly downregulated in preeclampsia. The migration and invasion capacities of HTR-8/SVneo and JAR cells with overexpression or knockdown of BST2 were detected by wound healing assay and Transwell assays. It was found that BST2 overexpression could up-regulate MMP2 expression, and enhance the migration and invasion capacity of HTR-8/SVneo and JAR cells. BST2 knockdown could reverse these effects. MMP2 knockdown could downregulate the invasion capacity of HTR-8/SVneo cells, and MMP2 overexpression reversed these effects. Pearson correlation analysis demonstrated that the expression of MMP2 and BST2 were positively correlated. These results indicate that the downregulation of BST2 lowers MMP2 expression and restraint trophoblast functions, which probably explain its role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

Exosomal encapsulation of miR-125a-5p inhibited trophoblast cell migration and proliferation by regulating the expression of VEGFA in preeclampsia.

This study is aimed to examine the association between umbilical cord blood (UCB) derived exosomal microRNA (miRNA) with preeclampsia (PE) and to further explore the mechanism of a key differential gene (hsa-miR-125a-5p) in preeclampsia. Umbilical cord blood exosomal miRNA(exo-miRNA) from normal pregnant women and pregnant women with preeclampsia was processed via miRNA sequencing. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was performed to assess the expression of miR-125a-5p in normal and PE placental tissues and peripheral blood derived exosomes in the third trimester. Human trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo was assigned as the negative control and miR-125a-5p mimics. QRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to identify the expressions of miR-125a-5p and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). CCK8, flow cytometry, wound-healing and Transwell assays were used to analyze the effect of miR-125a-5p on HTR8/SVneo cell migration, proliferation, and cycle distribution. Tube formation was performed to estimate the angiogenesis ability of miR-125a-5p on HUVECs. In conclusion, miR-125a-5p expression in PE placental tissues was higher than in normal subjects, while the expression of VEGFA was lower in PE placental tissues. We then compared the miR-125a-5p mimics group with the negative control group and found that in the mimics group, the cell migration, proliferation and angiogenesis abilities were decreased, and more cells were arrested in the S stage. Our study systematically profiled the UCB exo-miRNA in normal and PE pregnant women and demonstrated that dysregulation of miR-125a-5p might affect HTR8/SVneo cell proliferation and migration and inhibit angiogenesis by regulating VEGFA, indicating that miR-125a-5p is involved in the progression of PE.

Advances in exosomal microRNA and pathogenesis of preeclampsia / 中华围产医学杂志

Preeclampsia is an idiopathic gestational disease with unknown etiology or pathogenesis. Exosomes are membranous nanovesicles secreted by various cells, carrying contents such as proteins, mRNA, microRNA and lipids and being involved in regulations between cells by transporting the above contents through target cells. The expression of exosome-derived proteins and microRNAs in preeclampsia patients experiences changes, resulting in maternal inadequate trophoblast invasion, depressed endothelial cell function and angiogenesis. Research on placenta-derived exosomal microRNAs in preeclampsia patients may help to elucidate the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.