Adipocyte-Derived Exosomal NOX4-Mediated Oxidative Damage Induces Premature Placental Senescence in Obese Pregnancy

Background: A recent study has reported that maternal obesity is linked to placental oxidative damage and premature senescence. NADPH Oxidase 4 (NOX4) is massively expressed in adipose tissue, and its induced Reactive Oxygen Species have been found to contribute to cellular senescence. While, whether, in obese pregnancy, adipose tissue-derived NOX4 is the considerable cause of placental senescence remained elusive.

Methods: This study collected term placentas from obese and normal pregnancies and obese pregnant mouse model was constructed by a high fat diet to explore placental senescence. Furthermore, adipocyte-derived exosomes were isolated from primary adipocyte medium of obese and normal pregnancies to examine their effect on placenta functions in vivo and vitro.

Results: The placenta from the obese group showed a significant increase in placental oxidative damage and senescence. Exosomes from obese adipocytes contained copies of NOX4, and when cocultured with HTR8/SVneo cells, they induced severe oxidative damage, cellular senescence, and suppressed proliferation and invasion functions when compared with the control group. In vivo, adipocyte-derived NOX4-containing exosomes could induce placental oxidative damage and senescence, ultimately leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Conclusion: In obesity, adipose tissue can secrete exosomes containing NOX4 which can be delivered to trophoblast resulting in severe DNA oxidative damage and premature placental senescence, ultimately leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes.

NADPH oxidase 4; adipose tissue; exosome; maternal obesity; oxidative damage; placental premature senescence.