title: Punicalagin promotes human villous trophoblast differentiation.
abstract: Poor differentiation of trophoblasts is associated with placental dysfunction, predisposing women to multiple pregnancy disorders. Punicalagin, a prominent ellagitannin in pomegranate juice has been shown to exert anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidative effects in human trophoblasts. We hypothesized that punicalagin modulates trophoblast differentiation. We found that punicalagin-treated primary trophoblast showed reduced E-cadherin, higher Syncytin 1, more β-hCG, and increased GCM1, an upstream regulator of β-hCG. Punicalagin exposure of villous explants enhanced the number of cytotrophoblasts expressing the proliferation marker Ki67. We conclude that punicalagin enhances trophoblast differentiation and speculate that punicalagin might be used therapeutically in pregnancies at risk for placental dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4566 Scott Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA. Electronic address: chenb@wudosis.wustl.edu.
authors.forename: Baosheng
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4566 Scott Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
authors.forename: Mark S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Longtine
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4566 Scott Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil.
authors.forename: Maria Laura
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, 4566 Scott Ave., St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
authors.forename: D Michael
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Nelson
mesh_terms: D015820:Cadherins / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005260:Female; D015686:Gene Products, env / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins; D018997:Chorionic Gonadotropin, beta Subunit, Human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C491089:GCM1 protein, human; D015686:Gene Products, env; D047348:Hydrolyzable Tannins; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; C405335:syncytin; C115642:punicalagin
keywords: Differentiation; Placenta; Polyphenol; Pomegranate