The role of Sep (O-phosphoserine) tRNA: Sec (selenocysteine) synthase (SEPSECS) in proliferation, apoptosis and hormone secretion of trophoblast cells

• Published in: Placenta (Eastbourne) Vol. 34; no. 11; pp. 967 - 972
• Main Authors: Zhao, H.-D, Zhang, W.-G, Sun, M.-N, Duan, Q.-F, Li, F.-L, Li, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases - antagonists & inhibitors; Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases - genetics; Amino Acyl-tRNA Synthetases - metabolism; Apoptosis; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation; Chorionic Gonadotropin - secretion; Colony-Forming Units Assay; Down-Regulation; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Silencing; hCG; Humans; Internal Medicine; Models, Biological; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Placenta - enzymology; Placenta - metabolism; Placenta - secretion; Placental Hormones - secretion; Placentation; Pregnancy; Progesterone - secretion; Proliferation; Recombinant Proteins - biosynthesis; Recombinant Proteins - chemistry; Recombinant Proteins - metabolism; RNA, Small Interfering; RNA, Transfer, Amino Acyl - metabolism; SEPSECS; Trophoblast; Trophoblasts - enzymology; Trophoblasts - metabolism; Trophoblasts - secretion; Up-Regulation; SEPSECS; Trophoblast; Proliferation; hCG; PG; Apoptosis; Hormone; Cell proliferation; Trophoblaste; Vertebrata; Mammalia; tRNA; Fetal membrane; Enzyme; Secretion; Synthase; Cell
• ISSN: 0143-4004; 1532-3102
• DOI: 10.1016/j.placenta.2013.07.066

Abstract Objectives To investigate whether Sep (O-phosphoserine) tRNA: Sec (selenocysteine) synthase (SEPSECS), which plays an essential role in the synthesis of selenoprotein, affects proliferation, apoptosis and hormone secretion of human trophoblast cells. Methods Human trophoblast JEG-3 cells were divided into four groups: control group, SEPSECS silenced-expression group, empty vector group and SEPSECS over-expression group. Over-expression and silenced-expression were achieved by transfection with plasmid DNA or RNA oligonucleotide, respectively. 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl] -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and colony formation assays were performed to investigate cell proliferation, while apoptosis was tested by annexin V-FITC, PI double staining and caspases-3 activation assays, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the level of progesterone (PG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Results SEPSECS silenced-expression clearly inhibited proliferation of JEG-3 cells ( p  < 0.05), significantly induced cell apoptosis ( p  < 0.01) and reduced the production of PG and hCG ( p  < 0.05). On the contrary, SEPSECS over-expression significantly promoted both cell proliferation ( p  < 0.01) and secretion of PG and hCG ( p  < 0.05). Conclusions SEPSECS significantly affects proliferation, apoptosis and hormone secretion of human trophoblast cells, suggesting that a potential relationship exists among SEPSECS, cell proliferation, apoptosis and hormone production of human placental trophoblast cells. Furthermore, this may provide a clue to uncover the relationship between selenium and human placental in association with an emphasis on the importance of selenium adequacy during pregnancy.