Inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3/SOSC1 Signaling Pathway Improves Secretion Function of Vascular Endothelial Cells in a Rat Model of Pregnancy-Induced Hypertension.

Background/aims: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the JAK2/STAT3/SOSC1 signaling pathway on the secretion function of vascular endothelial cells (VECs) in a rat model of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).

Methods: A PIH rat model was established. Forty-eight pregnant Sprague-Dawley female rats were selected and assigned into four groups: the normal group (normal non-pregnant rats), the non-PIH group (pregnant rats without PIH), the PIH group (pregnant rats with PIH) and the AG490 group (pregnant rats with PIH treated with AG490). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and urinary protein (UP) were measured. The expressions of JAK2/STAT3/SOSC1 signaling pathway-related proteins in placenta tissues were detect by Western blotting. Radioimmunoassay was applied to detect serum levels of nitric oxide (NO), super oxide dismutase (SOD), placental growth factor (PGF), thromboxane B2 (TXB2) and endothelin (ET). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

Results: Compared with the normal and non-PIH groups, the PIH and AG490 groups had higher SBP and UP levels at 17th and 25th day of pregnancy. The expressions of p/t-JAK2, p/t-STAT3 and SOSC1 in the PIH and AG490 groups were higher than those in the non-PIH group, while the expressions of p/t-JAK2, p/t-STAT3 and SOSC1 in the AG490 group were lower than those in the PIH group. Compared with the non-PIH group, serum levels of ET, TXB2, IL-6 and TNF-α were increased in the PIH and AG490 groups, while serum levels of NO, SOD, 6-keto-PGF1a and IL-10 levels were reduced. Furthermore, the AG490 had lower serum levels of ET, TXB2, IL-6 and TNF-α and higher serum levels of NO, SOD, 6-keto-PGF1a and IL-10 than those in the PIH group.

Conclusion: Our study provides evidence that inhibition of the JAK2/STAT3/SOSC1 signaling pathway could improve the secretion function of VECs in PIH rats.