Journal: iScience

Article Title: DHODH regulates trophoblast fusion via IFITM-reduced plasma membrane fluidity: Implications for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.116163

Figure Lengend Snippet: Increased IFITM and decreased DHODH expression characterize the placenta in the context of HDPs (A) Volcano plot of transcriptomic changes identified by RNA-seq. Transcripts highlighted in red or blue were significantly altered ( q value < 0.05). (B) Differentially expressed genes were classified by functional enrichment analysis using the Reactome pathway database and Gene Ontology (GO) biological processes or cellular components. (C) Heatmap of mitochondria-related genes downregulated in the placenta in the context of HDPs. Genes with higher expression are shown in green, and those with lower expression are shown in red. Ctrl: premature delivery, n = 5; HDP, n = 5. (D) Expression of DHODH, OPA1, DNM1L, MFN1, TFAM, and IFITM1-3 in trophoblast BeWo cells treated with forskolin (FSK, 2.5 μM) and rotenone (Rote, 50 nM) for 48 h. GAPDH was used as a reference gene. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. ∗ p < 0.05, ∗∗ p < 0.01 vs. FSK alone (Tukey’s test). (E) Expression of IFITMs in BeWo cells treated with FSK (2.5 μM), orludodstat (Orlu, 1 nM), or brequinar (Bre, 25 nM) for 48 h. GAPDH was used as a reference gene. The data are presented as the mean ± SEM from three independent experiments. ∗∗ p < 0.01 vs. Ctrl; † p < 0.05, †† p < 0.01, ††† p < 0.001 vs. FSK alone (Tukey’s test).

Article Snippet: • Raw RNA-seq data derived from human placental samples and trophoblast cell lines have been deposited at the DNA DataBank of Japan (DDBJ) Sequence Read Archive as DDBJ: DRA021720 and DRA021721 and are publicly available as of the date of publication.

Techniques: Expressing, RNA Sequencing, Functional Assay

Journal: iScience

Article Title: DHODH regulates trophoblast fusion via IFITM-reduced plasma membrane fluidity: Implications for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.116163

Figure Lengend Snippet: DHODH regulates IFITM expression via IRF1 (A–H) BeWo cells or DHODH-KD BeWo cells were treated with FSK (2.5 μM), Orlu (1 nM), or Bre (25 nM) for 48 h. (A) Volcano plot showing transcriptomic changes identified by RNA-seq. Transcripts highlighted in red or blue were considered differentially expressed, as indicated by an expression change ≥2-fold ( p < 0.05). (B) Correlation analysis of RNA-seq data from Orlu-, Bre-treated, and DHODH-KD cells. (C) Differentially expressed genes were classified by functional enrichment analysis using the Wiki pathway database and GO biological processes or cellular components. (D) RNA-seq was used to evaluate the expression levels of genes associated with syncytialization. (E) RNA-seq was used to evaluate the expression levels of IRF family genes. (F) Immunoblotting for IRF1, total IRF3, and p -IRF3. GAPDH was used as a loading control. Representative data from three independent experiments are shown. The graph shows the total IRF3 and p -IRF3 levels normalized to GAPDH levels from three independent experiments. ∗∗ p < 0.01, ∗∗∗ p < 0.001 vs. Ctrl (Tukey’s test). Values represent the mean ± SEM. (G) ChIP assay showing IRF1 binding to upstream regulatory regions (up to 3 kbp) of the IFITM1, IFITM2, and IFITM3 loci in BeWo cells treated with FSK alone (2.5 μM) for 48 h. ∗ p < 0.05 vs. Ctrl; † p < 0.05, †† p < 0.01, ††† p < 0.001 vs. FSK alone (Tukey’s test). (H) Immunofluorescence staining of IRF1 (red). Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). Scale bars, 5 μm. The graph shows the number of staining cells from three independent experiments. Values represent the mean ± SEM. ∗∗∗ p < 0.001 vs. FSK.

Article Snippet: • Raw RNA-seq data derived from human placental samples and trophoblast cell lines have been deposited at the DNA DataBank of Japan (DDBJ) Sequence Read Archive as DDBJ: DRA021720 and DRA021721 and are publicly available as of the date of publication.

Techniques: Expressing, RNA Sequencing, Functional Assay, Western Blot, Control, Binding Assay, Immunofluorescence, Staining