Mechanism of LIN28B in trophoblastic villous cells of unexplained recurrent abortion

Abstract LIN28B plays an important role in early embryonic development, but its role in villous trophoblast implantation and differentiation remains unknown. Purpose: To verify the role of LIN28B in trophoblastic villous tissue and cells from women with URSA(unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion)and artificial termination of pregnancy (negative control, NC). Methods: The LIN28B gene and its protein expression level were detected with real-time quantitative PCR, Western immunoblotting analysis, and immunocytochemistry. The gene was also overexpressed in chorionic villous cell lines (HTR-8/SVneo and BeWo) to examine its effect on trophoblast function. Results: The expression of LIN28B mRNA and protein of URSA villi was lower than that in the NC group. At the cellular level, overexpression of LIN28B enhanced cellular migration, and invasion, and inhibited apoptosis. LIN28B may inhibit apoptosis by promoting Akt phosphorylation and by inhibiting Bad phosphorylation and Bcl-2 expression. In addition, LIN28B inhibited cell fusion and reduced cellular syncytia. Conclusions: The expression of LIN28B is decreased with URSA, inhibiting cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and promoting apoptosis and fusion. Dystrophic dysfunction, then, may be one of the causes of miscarriage.