Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Reproduction, Fertility and Development
Volume
36
Issue
11
PubMed ID
38976640
Publisher
CSIRO
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
70401
Abstract
Context: There is mounting evidence implicating kisspeptin signalling in placental development and function. Aims: This study aimed to elucidate kisspeptin's role in trophoblast invasion and migration using three experimental models. Methods: First, we examined the mouse fetus and placenta in a kisspeptin receptor (Kiss1r) knockout (KO) model. Fetal/placental weights and gene expression (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) were assessed. Second, we determined kisspeptin effects on a human trophoblast (BeWo) cell line in vitro. Third, we examined KISS1 and KISS1R gene expression in human placenta from term and pre-Term pregnancies. Key results: No difference was found in fetal or placental weight between Kiss1r KO and wildtype mice. However, expression of the trophoblast invasion marker, Mmp2 mRNA, was greater in the placental labyrinth zone of Kiss1r KO mice. BeWo cell models of villus cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast cells exhibited kisspeptin protein expression, with greater expression in syncytiotrophoblast, consistent with KISS1 mRNA. Kisspeptin treatment inhibited the migratory potential of cytotrophoblast-like cells. Finally, while no difference was seen in KISS1 and KISS1R mRNA between term and pre-Term placentas, we saw a difference in the relative expression of each gene pre-Term. We also observed a positive correlation between KISS1 expression and maternal body mass index. Conclusions: Our results indicate that kisspeptin may inhibit trophoblast invasion. Implications: Further investigation is required to clarify specific regulatory mechanisms.
DOI
10.1071/RD23230
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Panting, E. N., Weight, J. H., Sartori, J. A., Coall, D. A., & Smith, J. T. (2024). The role of placental kisspeptin in trophoblast invasion and migration: an assessment in Kiss1r knockout mice, BeWo cell lines and human term placenta. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 36(11). https://doi.org/10.1071/RD23230