PhD Scientific Days 2025

Poster Session III. - C: Molecular Medicine

Examination of Gene Regulation Associated with Pregnancy in Great Obstetrical Syndromes

Name of the presenter

Oravecz Orsolya

Institute/workplace of the presenter

Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

Authors

Orsolya Oravecz¹, Posta Máté², Krisztián Papp³, Emese Vivien Farkas², Nándor Gábor Than⁴, Andrea Balogh⁵

1: Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary; Doctoral School of Biology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
2: Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary; Károly Rácz Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
3: Department of Physics of Complex Systems, Institute of Physics and Astronomy, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
4: Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary; Maternity Private Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Budapest, Hungary
5: Systems Biology of Reproduction Research Group, Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, HUN-REN Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary

Text of the abstract

Introduction: Pregnancy is a complex biological process orchestrated by transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms involved in the maintenance of maternal immune tolerance and placental development. Disruptions in these processes may lead to pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia or recurrent miscarriage. Placental galectins (LGALS13, LGALS14, LGALS16) were found to be important in the maintenance of maternal immune tolerance and their altered expression is linked to obstetrical syndromes.
Aim: To extend our knowledge, this study was aimed at uncovering the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of LGALS13, LGALS14 and LGALS16 by bioinformatics analysis.
Method: For the identification of transcription factors (TFs) and microRNAs (miRNA) targeting LGALS genes, prediction tools and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) data were used. Microarray and qRT-PCR datasets were used to intersect predicted TFs with those differentially expressed in obstetric syndromes.
Result: We identified 17 TFs potentially involved in LGALS gene regulation. Among these, ESRRG (Estrogen-Related Receptor Gamma) expression is notably decreased in pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic diseases. Analysis of snRNA-seq data from first-trimester placental tissue revealed that LGALS expression is linked to trophoblast differentiation states. LGALS13 is upregulated in fusing cytotrophoblasts (CTB) and in the syncytiotrophoblast (STB) lineage. LGALS16 is predominantly expressed in fusing CTBs, while LGALS14, shows specific expression in cells committed to the STB fate. miRNA target prediction analyses identified five miRNAs potentially targeting LGALS13, four targeting LGALS14, and five targeting LGALS16. Several of these are upregulated in pregnancy complications such as intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth.
Conclusion: Our results provide novel insights into the regulation of placental galectins and highlight their potential in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Deciphering these networks may contribute to the development of biomarkers for the early detection of obstetrical syndromes.
Funding: Supported by the EKÖP-24 University Excellence Scholarship Program of the Ministry for Culture and Innovation from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund for O.O and M.P.; and by the MTA 25/2/2025/KP grant for A.B.