Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41668009›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026

ELABELA targets the METTL3/PI3K/AKT axis to enhance trophoblast invasion in early-onset preeclampsia.

Lijing Wang, Xiaokun Wang, Xue Wang, Mingsheng Wu, Minghui Ou, Ningning He

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Lijing WangThe Affiliated Qingdao Municipal Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China.
Xiaokun WangQingdao Hiser Hospital Affiliated of Qingdao University (Qingdao Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital), Qingdao, 266000, China.
Xue WangQingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao, 266000, China.
Mingsheng WuQingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao, 266000, China.
Minghui OuQingdao Hospital, University of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (Qingdao Municipal Hospital), Qingdao, 266000, China. xpw8588@126.com.
Ningning HeThe Affiliated Qingdao Municipal Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China. heningning@qdu.edu.cn.

Funding

Shandong Province Medical and Health Technology Development Plan Project 202205020216Shandong Province Natural Science Foundation ZR2023QH077
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundEarly-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) is a serious condition characterized by dysregulated trophoblast Invasiveness, leading to inadequate reconstruction of uterine spiral arteries and shallow placental implantation. ELA is a recently discovered protein which serves as an endogenous ligand of the angiotensin receptor AT1-related receptor protein(APJ). It has been found to have high cross species conservation and high expression in the placenta, indicating that it may play an important physiological role in pregnancy. This study aimed to evaluate the role of ELA in the context of EOPE and its impact on trophoblast function.

methodsPlacental tissue samples from normal pregnancies, preterm births, and EOPE cases were analyzed for ELA expression in cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts. Levels of ELA and APJ were measured and compared among the different groups. Additionally, HTR-8/SVneo cells were utilized to assess the functional effects of ELA silencing and overexpression on cell migration and invasion. The involvement of the METTL3/PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was also investigated through the knockdown of METTL3.

resultsWhile the mRNA and protein levels of ELA and APJ showed no significant changes between normal pregnancies and preterm births, significantly lower ELA and APJ levels were observed in samples from the EOPE group compared to those from normal pregnancies. Silencing ELA in HTR-8/SVneo cells led to compromised migratory and invasive potential, accompanied by decreased levels of key kinases associated with the METTL3/PI3K/AKT pathway. Conversely, ELA overexpression resulted in enhanced migration and invasion. Additionally, knockdown of METTL3 inhibited cell migration and invasion, correlating with reduced kinase levels within the same signaling pathway.

conclusionOur findings indicate that ELA plays a crucial role in stimulating trophoblastic cell migratory and invasive activities through the activation of METTL3/PI3K/AKT signaling. This suggests that dysregulation of ELA could contribute to the pathogenesis of EOPE. The results highlight potential avenues for developing novel therapeutic strategies for this serious condition. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.

Indexed as

MethyltransferasesPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesPre-EclampsiaProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktTrophoblastsAdultCell LineCell MovementFemaleHumansPeptide HormonesPlacentaPregnancyPremature BirthSignal TransductionAPELA protein, humanMethyltransferasesPeptide HormonesPhosphatidylinositol 3-KinasesProto-Oncogene Proteins c-aktAKTInvasionMETTL3PI3KPreeclampsia

Identifiers

PMID41668009
PMCPMC12990427

What Socratic holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.