Dominant inflammatory profile of the placenta in a preterm labor mouse model

Abstract

Objective: Despite a growing association between inflammation and preterm labor, the underlying mechanisms explaining the development of preterm labor after infection are still poorly understood. Here, we use RNA-sequencing to characterize the transcriptome changes of placenta tissue in a preterm labor mouse model.

Materials and methods: On day 15.5 of gestation, BALB/c mice received intrauterine injection of LPS to mimic preterm labor. A comprehensive catalog of genes was obtained using RNA-sequences and followed by bioinformatics analysis. The NOD-like receptor signaling pathway (Nod2, Cxcl1, Cxcl2, and IL-1β) and two downregulated genes (Ctsg and Snca) were selected for validating the results using qPCR analysis.

Results: We identified 155 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), 84 biological processes and 45 pathways in the placenta using RNA-seq. Fifty-four biological processes could be categorized as immune-related processes and 33 pathways were mainly related to immune disease and infections. All genes were consistent between the RNA-seq and qPCR analyses.

Conclusions: The dominant role for inflammatory biological processes and pathways in placenta can lead to preterm labor.

Keywords:

• Inflammation
• placenta
• preterm labor
• transcriptomics

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [No. 81771660 and 81741017]; Guangdong Science and Technology Project [No. 2018A030310162, 2017A020214018, 2017A020214003, and 2013B021800214]; Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangzhou City [No. 201704020034], Fundamental Research Funds for the Sun Yat-sen University [No.Youth Program 12ykpy29 and 17ykpy46], and 5010 projects at Sun Yat-Sen University [No.2012006].