GLYPHOSATE MODIFIED THE EXPRESSION OF ANGIOGENIC GENES IN A TROPHOBLASTIC CELL LINE WITHOUT ALTERING THE ANGIOGENIC PROCESS

SOFÍA ODDI; GABRIELA ANAHÍ ALTAMIRANO; MARÍA LAURA ZENCLUSSEN; AYELEN LUCIANA GOMEZ; GONZALO SCHIERANO-MAROTTI; MÓNICA MUÑOZ-DE-TORO; LAURA KASS

Mar del Plata

Congreso; REUNIÓN CONJUNTA SAIC SAB AAFE AACYTAL 2023; 2023

Sociedad de Biociencias

Glyphosate (G), the active component of herbicides, has been detected in biologicalsamples from pregnant women and umbilical cord samples. Adverse pregnancyoutcomes are associated with G exposure, including shortened gestational length inhumans and vascular alterations at embryo implantation sites in rats. Considering thatthe trophectoderm defines successful decidualization through migration, invasion, andspiral arteries remodeling, we aimed to analyze the effects of G on angiogenesis usinga trophoblastic cell line. HTR-8/SVneo cells were exposed to 0.625, 1.25, and 2.5 µM G.The mRNA expression of genes reported to be involved in cellular migration andangiogenesis, such as IL11, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), C-C motifchemokine ligand 2 (CCL2), and coagulation factor II thrombin receptor (F2R), wasassessed after 6 and 12 h of treatment with G by qRT-PCR. Tube–formation assay wasperformed to study the angiogenic response to G. At 6 h, an overexpression of CCL2was observed at 1.25 µM G compared to the vehicle (P=0.024) and to 0.625 µM G(P=0.045). In addition, higher VEGF levels were observed at 1.25 µM G compared to2.5 µM G (P=0.025), and the same trend was seen when compared to the vehicle(P=0.053). However, at 12 h, exposure to G had no effect on the mRNAs evaluated. Inthe tube-formation assay, no differences in the number of branches, tube total length,and branching points were observed between G and the vehicle. G did not appear toalter the angiogenesis process in vitro assays; however, an acute effect on theexpression of several angiogenic genes was observed. Therefore, G exposure couldcontribute as a risk factor for developing pregnancy complications, mainly in case ofpre-existing diseases.