Preeclampsia associates with RECK-dependent decrease in human trophoblasts migration and invasion.

Introduction: Preeclampsia is characterized by reduced invasion capacity of trophoblasts involving lower matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Cell invasion is reduced by reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK), a plasma membrane protein that inhibits MMP in several cell types. However, it is unknown whether this mechanism happens in the human placenta from preeclampsia. The hypothesis of this study sustains that RECK expression is increased leading to reduced trophoblasts invasion in preeclampsia.

Methods: RECK expression in the human first trimester trophoblast cell line HTR8/SvNeo and in placentas from normal (n = 4) and preeclampsia (n = 4) pregnancies was evaluated by Western blot and immunofluorescence. MMP-dependent gelatin hydrolyzation was measured by in situ zymography and gelatinase assay in placental and cell extracts. RECK was overexpressed (plasmidial vector transfection) or partially reduced (shRNA) to evaluate its role in HTR8/SVneo cell migration and invasion.

Results: RECK was expressed in trophoblasts layer in human placentas. Preeclampsia resulted in higher placental RECK protein abundance, reduced MMP function, and higher level of fibronectin (a MMP substrate) compared with placentas from normal pregnancies. RECK is also expressed in HTR-8/SVneo cells. Reduced RECK expression resulted in higher MMP-dependent gelatin hydrolyzation, associated to higher migration and invasion of HTR8/SVneo cells. However, RECK overexpression associated with reduced hydrolyzation, cell migration and invasion.

Discussion: RECK is overexpressed in human trophoblasts from preeclampsia and may be responsible of this disease-associated lower migration and invasion of this cell type.