JunB/Cyclin-D1 imbalance in placental mesenchymal stromal cells derived from preeclamptic pregnancies with fetal-placental compromise

•We characterized AP-1 expression in normal and preeclamptic PDMSCs.•JunB was significantly increased in PE vs control PDMSCs.•Cyclin-D1 was significantly down-regulated in PE vs control PDMSCs.•JunB siRNA was accompanied by increased Cyclin-D1 in normal PDMSCs.•We demonstrated that JunB over-expression in PE-PDMSCs affects Cyclin-D1 regulation.

IntroductionIn the present study, we characterized the expression of Activating Protein 1 (AP-1) factors, key cell cycle regulators, in primary placental mesenchymal stromal cells (PDMSCs) derived from normal and preeclamptic (PE) pregnancies with fetal-placental compromise.MethodsPDMSCs were isolated from control (n = 20) and preeclamptic (n = 24) placentae. AP-1 expression was determined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR (sqRT-PCR), Real Time PCR and Western Blot assay. PDMSCs were plated and JunB siRNA was performed. JunB and Cyclin-D1 expression were assessed by Real Time and Western Blot analyses.ResultsJunB expression was significantly increased while Cyclin-D1 expression was significantly down-regulated in PE relative to control PDMSCs. JunB siRNA was accompanied by JunB down-regulation and increased Cyclin-D1 in normal PDMSCs.ConclusionsWe described, for the first time, AP-1 expression in PDMSCs derived from physiological and PE placentae. Importantly, we demonstrated that JunB over-expression in PE-PDMSCs affects Cyclin-D1 regulation. Our data suggest a possible contribution of these pathological placental cells to the altered cell cycle regulation typical of preeclamptic placentae.