Molecular mechanism of the effect of angiopoietin‑like protein 8 on the proliferation, invasion and migration of placental trophoblasts in preeclampsia

Figure 1. ANGPTL8 expression levels in preeclampsia patients and correlation analysis with baseline characteristics. (A) Levels of ANGPTL8 in the serum of the study population. (B) Correlation analysis of body mass index (BMI), systolic pressure, diastolic pressure and proteinuria with ANGPTL8 levels. ***P<0.001 vs. control subjects. ANGPTL8, angiopoietin-like protein 8.

Figure 2. Effect of ANGPTL8 on the viability and proliferation of trophoblast cells. HTR8/SVneo cells were transfected with si-NC or si-ANGPTL8. (A) Western blotting and (B) reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction were performed to evaluate the protein and mRNA expression of ANGPTL8, respectively. (C) Cell Counting Kit-8 assay was used to detect the viability of HTR8/SVneo cells. (D) The expression levels of CDK2, p21 and PCNA were analyzed by western blotting. The data represent the mean ± standard error of the mean of three independent experiments. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001, vs. control or si-NC group. ANGPTL8, angiopoietin-like protein 8; si-, small interfering RNA; NC, negative control; CDK2, cyclin-dependent kinase 2; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

Figure 3. Effect of ANGPTL8 on the migration and invasion of trophoblast cells. (A) Wound healing assay and (B) Transwell assay were performed to investigate the effect of ANGPTL8 on cell migration and invasion, respectively (magnification, x100). (C) The effect of ANGPTL8 on the protein expression levels of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 was analyzed by western blotting. The data represent the mean ± standard error of the mean of three independent experiments. ***P<0.001 vs. control or si-NC group. ANGPTL8, angiopoietin-like protein 8; si-, small interfering RNA; NC, negative control; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; TIMP, tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase.