1. Academic Validation
  2. ABCA1 plays an anti-inflammatory role by affecting TLR4 at the feto-maternal interface

ABCA1 plays an anti-inflammatory role by affecting TLR4 at the feto-maternal interface

  • Life Sci. 2020 Oct 15;259:118390. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118390.
Ning Ding 1 Na Liu 1 Lei Yang 1 Xiaoyan Han 1 Li Lin 2 Yan Long 3
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050 Beijing, China.
  • 2 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Peking University International Hospital, Beijing 102206, China.
  • 3 Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050 Beijing, China. Electronic address: longyan_doc@sina.com.
Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the function and pathway of ATP-binding cassette transporter member A1 (ABCA1)-induced anti-inflammatory response in cells at the feto-maternal interface.

Main methods: The primary amniotic mesenchymal cells (AMCs), chorion cells and decidual cells were isolated from placental membranes of women with uncomplicated pregnancies at full-term (not in labor) using enzymatic digestion. Flow cytometry was used to measure the purity of isolated cells. Immunofluorescence assay was performed to detect the location of ABCA1 and Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4). Reverse transcription PCR and western blotting analyses were used to examine ABCA1, TLR4 and inflammatory factor expression in primary cells. ELISA was used to detect cytokine secretions from the primary cells.

Key findings: ABCA1 and TLR4 were mainly located in the cell nucleus and cytoplasm of feto-maternal interface cells. ABCA1 expression remained the highest in chorion cells, medium in decidual cells, and weakest in AMCs. Upregulated expression of ABCA1 decreased expression of TLR4 and the levels of pro-inflammatory factors, but increased cytoprotective factors in all cell types. In contrast, downregulated expression of ABCA1 increased the expression of TLR4 and pro-inflammatory factors, but decreased the levels of cytoprotective factors. Downregulated ABCA1 expression followed by decreased TLR4 expression using a small interference RNA (siRNA) induced reduction of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in all cell types.

Significance: ABCA1 at feto-maternal interface acts as an anti-inflammatory role by reducing the expression of TLR4 in uncomplicated pregnancies. ABCA1 might be a potential therapeutic target for preventing gestational diseases.

Keywords

ABCA1; Anti-inflammatory role; Feto-maternal interface; Gestational complications; TLR4.

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