| Objective.To characterise the expression of G-Protein Coupled Receptor 30 (GPR30) in human placenta, and to determine the role of GPR30 in trophoblast invasion and the possible relation with preeclampsia.Methods:Placentas from first trimester, normal term and pregnancies complicated with pre-eclampsia were used in the study. Normoxia and hypoxia/reoxygenation conditions were applied to simulate physiological environment of normal pregnancy and pathological environment of preeclampsia respectively. The effect of 17 β-estradiol (E2), GPR30 agonist G1 and GPR30 inhibitor G15 on invasion of first trimester villous explants and human trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo were determined using in vitro invasion assays. Immunofluorescence and western blotting were used to investigate the GPR30 protein expression. RT-PCR was used to characterise the mRNA expression level of GPR30, MMP2 and MMP9.Results:(1):GPR30 protein expression was significantly lower in term placentas from pregnnacies complicated by pre-eclampsia compared to placentas from first trimester and normal term pregnancies. (2):E2 and Gl treatment significantly increased the invasiveness of trophoblast cells. In contrast, the antagonist G15 significantly decreased trophoblast invasion. What’s more, H/R seriously impaired the invasion capacity of trophoblast. (3):E2 and G1 treatment increased while G15 decreased GPR30 protein expression, and H/R significantly downregulated the protein level of GPR30. (4):Meanwhile, the results also implied that GPR30 involves in regulating the expression of MMP9. (5):No significant differences have been found in mRNA expression of GPR30, MMP2 and MMP9.Conclusion.The data imply that GPR30 plays a role in trophoblast invasion, the up-regulation of GPR30 protein level could increase trophoblast invasion, the aberrant expression of GPR30 contributes to the development of preeclampsia. |
