Hypoxia-driven circ-TBC1D1/miR-520h/EPHB4 impairs trophoblast function in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion.

ABSTRACT: Hypoxia during early pregnancy critically regulates trophoblast function, and its dysregulation has been implicated in unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion (URSA). This study investigated the circ-TBC1D1/miR-520 h/EPHB4 regulatory axis in HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast function under hypoxic conditions (2% O₂) and its association with URSA. Clinical analysis of chorionic tissues from 14 URSA patients and 14 controls revealed upregulated EPHB4 expression in URSA samples. EPHB4 suppressed proliferation, migration, and invasion while increasing apoptosis and altering angiogenesis markers (VEGFA, CD31). Mechanistically, circ-TBC1D1 acted as a competitive endogenous RNA by sequestering miR-520 h, thereby elevating EPHB4 expression and modulating HTR-8/SVneo trophoblast function under

SUBMITTER: Hua R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12521464 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature