Conclusions
Level of epiregulin and poFUT1 is lower in abortion patients than early pregnancy women. Epiregulin promotes trophoblast EMT through O-fucosylation on uPA catalysed by poFUT1. Epiregulin and poFUT1 may be suggested as the potential diagnostic biomarkers and useful treatment targets for abortion.
Methods
We employed ELISA and Western blot to detect serum levels of epiregulin and poFUT1 from non-pregnancy women, pregnancy women and abortion patients. Using two trophoblast cell lines and a mouse pregnancy model, we investigated the underlying mechanisms of epiregulin and poFUT1 in trophoblast EMT process.
Results
Serum levels of epiregulin and poFUT1 were higher in pregnant women compared with non-pregnant women, and their levels were significantly decreased in abortion patients compared with pregnant women. The results showed that epiregulin upregulated poFUT1 expression and increased O-fucosylation on uPA, which further activated the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway, facilitating EMT behaviour of trophoblast cells and embryo implantation in the mouse pregnant model. Conclusions: Level of epiregulin and poFUT1 is lower in abortion patients than early pregnancy women. Epiregulin promotes trophoblast EMT through O-fucosylation on uPA catalysed by poFUT1. Epiregulin and poFUT1 may be suggested as the potential diagnostic biomarkers and useful treatment targets for abortion.