Preeclampsia (PE) is a specific disorder of pregnancy with significant morbidity and mortality to the mother and the fetus. It has been reported that abnormal regulation of trophoblast cells contributes to the development of PE. LIM and SH3 Protein 2 (LASP2) belongs to nebulin protein family of actin-binding protein that has broad biological functions. In this study, we evaluated the role of LASP2 in the regulation of trophoblast cells. Our results demonstrated that LASP2 was markedly up-regulated in the placentas of patients with PE. Overexpression of LASP2 significantly suppressed the cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells. LASP2 overexpression reduced the expression levels of β-catenin, cyclin D1, and c-Myc in trophoblast cells. Furthermore, activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway booked the effects of LASP2 on trophoblast cells. In conclusion, these findings indicated that LASP2 might contribute to the pathogenesis of PE via regulating cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of trophoblast cells. Thus, LASP2 might be a prospective therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of PE.
Keywords: Wnt/β-catenin pathway; LIM and SH3 Protein 2 (LASP2); Preeclampsia (PE); invasion; proliferation; trophoblast cells.