Punicalagin Promotes Human Villous Trophoblast Differentiation

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Poor differentiation of trophoblasts is associated with placental dysfunction, predisposing women to multiple pregnancy disorders. Punicalagin, a prominent ellagitannin in pomegranate juice has been shown to exert anti-apoptosis and anti-oxidative effects in human trophoblasts. We hypothesized that punicalagin modulates trophoblast differentiation. We found that punicalagin-treated primary trophoblast showed reduced E-cadherin, higher Syncytin 1, more beta-hCG, and increased GCM1, an upstream regulator of beta-hCG. Punicalagin exposure of villous explants enhanced the number of cytotrophoblasts expressing the proliferation marker Ki67. We conclude that punicalagin enhances trophoblast differentiation and speculate that punicalagin might be used therapeutically in pregnancies at risk for placental dysfunction. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.448082BJH FoundationDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MOConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)-Science Without Borders [200356/2014-3]Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) [2014/01925-0]Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP