Activation of adenosine A2B receptor impairs properties of trophoblast cells and involves mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase signaling

•Adenosine A2B receptor agonist NECA reduces trophoblast migration.•A2B adenosine receptor stimulation decreases phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and SAPK/JNK.•ProMMP-2 activity and MMP-2 mRNA decrease after A2B adenosine receptor activation.

IntroductionShallow trophoblast invasion of the maternal spiral arteries contributes to impaired placental perfusion and is hypothesized to be involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Hypoxia is a potent stimulus for the release of adenosine.MethodsWe investigated the effects of hypoxia and A2B adenosine receptor signaling on migration, invasion, proteolytic activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, expression of MMP-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA, and production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in trophoblast cells (HTR-8/SVneo, BeWo).ResultsThe adenosine A2B receptor agonist 5-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (NECA) reduced trophoblast (HTR-8/SVneo and BeWo) migration at 2%, 8% and 21% O2 compared to untreated control cells. A2B adenosine receptor stimulation decreased phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and stress-activated protein kinase/Jun-amino-terminal kinase (SAPK/JNK) at all three O2 concentrations. ProMMP-2 activity, MMP-2 mRNA levels and hCG levels were markedly decreased after A2B adenosine receptor activation in trophoblast cells. Adenosine receptor A2B stimulation decreased VEGF expression at 2% and 8% O2 but led to increased levels at 21% O2.ConclusionsThese data indicate A2B receptor activation blunts trophoblast migration possibly as a result of reduced activation of the MAPK signaling pathway and lower proMMP-2 levels. These data suggest a role for adenosine receptor A2B in placental development and possibly in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.