Abstract
Normal pregnancy is essential for human reproduction. However, BaP (benzo(a)pyrene) and its metabolite BPDE (benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide) could cause dysfunctions of human trophoblast cells and might further induce miscarriage. Yet, the underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. Herein, we identified a novel upregulated lnc-HZ04 and a novel downregulated miR-hz04 in villous tissues of unexplained recurrent miscarriage (RM) relative to those in healthy control tissues and also in BPDE-treated human trophoblast cells. Lnc-HZ04 directly and specifically bound with miR-hz04, diminished the reduction effects of miR-hz04 on IP3 R1 mRNA expression level and on IP3 R1 mRNA stability, and then activated the Ca2+ -mediated IP3 R1 /p-CaMKII/SGCB pathway, which further promoted trophoblast cell apoptosis. The miR-hz04 target site on lnc-HZ04 played crucial roles in these regulations. In normal trophoblast, relatively less lnc-HZ04 and more miR-hz04 suppressed this apoptosis pathway and gave normal pregnancy. After exposure to BPDE or in RM tissues, p53 was upregulated, which might promote p53-mediated lnc-HZ04 transcription. Relatively more lnc-HZ04 and less miR-hz04 activated this apoptosis pathway and might further induce miscarriage. BaP could also induce mice miscarriage by upregulating its corresponding murine apoptosis pathway. Therefore, BPDE-induced apoptosis of human trophoblast cells was associated with the occurrence of miscarriage. This work discovered the regulation roles of lnc-HZ04 and miR-hz04 and provided scientific and clinical understanding of the occurrence of unexplained miscarriage.