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Hypoxia‐inducible factor 2 alpha impairs human cytotrophoblast syncytialization: New insights into placental dysfunction and fetal growth restriction
Author(s) -
Colson Arthur,
Depoix Christophe Louis,
Baldin Pamela,
Hubit Corinne,
Sonveaux Pierre,
Debiève Frédéric
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fj.202001681r
Subject(s) - cytotrophoblast , hypoxia (environmental) , hypoxia inducible factors , fetal growth , fetus , fetal hypoxia , placenta , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , endocrinology , medicine , andrology , chemistry , pregnancy , gene , genetics , oxygen , organic chemistry
Abstract Insufficient remodeling of uterine arteries causes pregnancy‐related diseases, including fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. In these situations, reduced maternal blood flow in the placenta is thought to be responsible for the persistence of a low oxygen environment throughout pregnancy. We hypothesized that chronic activation of transcription factors hypoxia‐inducible factors (HIFs) actively participates in placental underdevelopment, which impairs fetal growth. The computer‐assisted analysis in pathological placentas revealed an increased number of HIF‐2α‐positive nuclei in the syncytium compared to normal human placentas, while HIF‐1α stabilization was unchanged. Specific involvement of HIF‐2α was confirmed in primary human cytotrophoblasts rendered deficient for HIF1A or HIF2A . Silencing HIF2A increased the expression of main syncytialization markers as well as differentiation and syncytium formation. It also improved placental growth factor bioavailability. None of these changes was seen when silencing HIF1A . Conversely, the experimental induction of HIF‐2α expression repressed forskolin‐induced differentiation in BeWo choriocarcinoma cells. Our mechanistic insights evidence that transcription factor HIF‐2α impairs placental function, thus suggesting its participation in fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia when placentas become chronically hypoxic. Furthermore, it suggests the possibility to develop novel molecular targeting therapies for placental dysfunction.