Regulation of Alternative Splicing by PARP1 in HTR-8/Svneo Cells: Implications for Placental Development and Spontaneous Abortion

Abstract

Objective: Alternative splicing affects gene expression during placental development. The present study aimed to identify poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1)-regulated alternative splicing events in HTR-8/Svneo cells.

Methods: Decidual tissues were collected from women with induced abortion and spontaneous abortion. PARP1 transcription was quantified by RT-qPCR. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to knock down the PARP1 expression in HTR-8/Svneo cells. The transfection efficiency was verified by RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Total RNA was extracted, and the RNA-sequencing approach was used to identify alternative splicing events and transcriptomes. The PARP1 knockdown-induced differentially expressed genes with changes in alternative splicing events were quantified by RT-qPCR. Functional analysis, which included the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways, was performed.

Results: The PARP1 mRNA expression increased in decidual tissues in the spontaneous abortion group, when compared to the induced abortion group. However, the PARP1 knockdown significantly downregulated 1491 genes and upregulated 881 genes in HTR-8/Svneo cells. Furthermore, 227 genes that underwent alternative splicing were identified, and these were differentially expressed in siPARP1 cells, when compared to siNC cells.

Conclusion: The functional analysis revealed that these alternative splicing genes affected the functional phenotypes of extravillous cytotrophoblasts. Furthermore, the PARP1 knockdown led to alterations in gene expression and specific alternative splicing patterns in extravillous trophoblasts.

Keywords: alternative splicing; decidual tissues; extravillous trophoblasts; gene expression; poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1); spontaneous abortion.