The Oncogenic Theory of Preeclampsia: Is Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived PLAC1 Involved?

Massimo Conese, Ottavio Napolitano, Onofrio Laselva, Sante Di Gioia, Luigi Nappi, Luigia Trabace, Maria Matteo

International journal of molecular sciences 2023 Feb 10

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The pathomechanisms of preeclampsia (PE), a complication of late pregnancy characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, and due to improper placentation, are not well known. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from the amniotic membrane (AMSCs) may play a role in PE pathogenesis as placental homeostasis regulators. PLACenta-specific protein 1 (PLAC1) is a transmembrane antigen involved in trophoblast proliferation that is found to be associated with cancer progression. We studied PLAC1 in human AMSCs obtained from control subjects (n = 4) and PE patients (n = 7), measuring the levels of mRNA expression (RT-PCR) and secreted protein (ELISA on conditioned medium). Lower levels of PLAC1 mRNA expression were observed in PE AMSCs as compared with Caco2 cells (positive controls), but not in non-PE AMSCs. PLAC1 antigen was detectable in conditioned medium obtained from PE AMSCs, whereas it was undetectable in that obtained from non-PE AMSCs. Our data suggest that abnormal shedding of PLAC1 from AMSC plasma membranes, likely by metalloproteinases, may contribute to trophoblast proliferation, supporting its role in the oncogenic theory of PE.

Citation

Massimo Conese, Ottavio Napolitano, Onofrio Laselva, Sante Di Gioia, Luigi Nappi, Luigia Trabace, Maria Matteo. The Oncogenic Theory of Preeclampsia: Is Amniotic Mesenchymal Stem Cells-Derived PLAC1 Involved? International journal of molecular sciences. 2023 Feb 10;24(4)