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.

Objective · To investigate the effects of growth arrest and DNA damage 45 alpha (Gadd45α) on the migration and invasion function of human extravillous trophoblast cells under hypoxia/re-oxygenation (H/R). Methods · Human extravillous trophoblast cells were infected by shRNA lentivirus targeting Gadd45α gene, to knock down Gadd45α gene expression. Then the oxidative stress model of preeclampsia was used in vitro to observe the changes of cell biological functions. The experiments were divided into 4 groups, nontreated group, hypoxia/re-oxygenation group, shRNA Gadd45α+H/R group and shRNA negative control+H/R group. Human villous explant experiments were used to determine the effects of silencing Gadd45α on human extravillous trophoblast cell under oxidative stress. Protein expression of Gadd45α was identified by Western blotting. Changes of cell migration and invasion were detected by transwell migration and Matrigel invasion assay. Gelatin zymography was used to detect the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) -2/9 in culture medium. Results · Hypoxia/re-oxygenation can increase the expression of Gadd45α in HTR8/SVneo cells and damage the trophoblast cell migration and invasion. Knocking down Gadd45α can increase the activities of MMP2/9, which can increase the cell migration and invasion. Conclusion · Knockdown of Gadd45α gene has promoted cell migration and invasion function of human extravillous trophobalst cells under oxidative stress.