2. Academic Validation
  3. FAK regulates trophoblast functions of invasion and proliferation through Rap1 pathway in early-onset preeclampsia

FAK regulates trophoblast functions of invasion and proliferation through Rap1 pathway in early-onset preeclampsia

  • Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2025 May 12:763:151788. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.151788.
Tingting Wang 1,  Hai Tong 2,  Ruixin Chen 3,  Youqing Jiang 2,  Chen Zhang 4,  Hongbo Qi 5,  Xue Zhang 6
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China.
  • 2 Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (CQMU-WCH), Chongqing, 401147, China.
  • 3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (CQMU-WCH), Chongqing, 401147, China; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, West China Second Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
  • 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women and Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University (CQMU-WCH), Chongqing, 401147, China.
  • 5 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Reproduction and Development of Chinese Ministry of Education, Chongqing Medical University, 400016, China. Electronic address: qihongbo@cqmu.edu.cn.
  • 6 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China. Electronic address: zhangxue240@163.com.
PMID: 40220488 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2025.151788
Abstract

This investigation examined focal adhesion kinase (FAK)'s role in trophoblast cellular processes during early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE). We analyzed FAK and its phosphorylated form (pY397FAK) expression patterns in both normal (n = 15) and EOPE (n = 15) placental tissues, including first trimester samples, using immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques. Next, Y15 was used to inhibit FAK activity. CCK-8 detection, Western blotting, wound healing assay, Transwell assays and flow cytometry were employed to systematically evaluate FAK's impact on trophoblast cell line HTR8/SVneo. Through transcriptomic and bioinformatics analyses, we identified Rap1 as a potential downstream mediator of FAK signaling in trophoblasts. In a mouse model of preeclampsia, we found decreased expression of both FAK and Rap1 in placental tissues, supporting our in vitro findings. These results suggest that FAK may contribute to preeclampsia development by regulating trophoblast invasion and proliferation through the Rap1 signaling pathway. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying EOPE and identifies FAK as a potential therapeutic target for preeclampsia treatment.

Keywords

FAK; Invasion; Preeclampsia; Proliferation; Rap1; Trophoblast.

Figures
Products
  • Cat. No.
    Product Name
    Description
    Target
    Research Area
  • HY-12444
    ≥98.0%, FAK Inhibitor
    FAK