Plac1 Ablation Disrupts Gene Expression and Signaling Pathways Essential for Prenatal Development: Emergence of a Preeclampsia Transcriptomic Profile

ABSTRACT: Plac1 is an X-linked gene essential for placental and embryonic development. A knockout (KO) mouse model was used to identify Plac1-regulated gene expression at E16.5 and E18.5 using differential gene microarray. Genes showing at least 1.5-fold change in expression and FDR < .05 were considered significant. At E16.5, 717 genes were downregulated and 798 were upregulated in KO placentas versus wild type (WT), whereas at E18.5, 1122 genes were downregulated and 1149 were upregulated. GO, KEGG, and IPA analyses revealed that downregulated genes were enriched for Rho GTPase-mediated and actin-cytoskeleton based processes that transmit extracellular cues through canonical signaling pathways, including Integrin, GPCR, Wnt, Notch, VEGF, BMP and TGF-beta, documented to impact trophoblast development, vasculogenesis, vascular tone, branching morphogenesis, and immunomodulation. Furthermore, a preeclampsia transcriptomic-like signature was induced that strengthened over time. By contrast, upregulated genes reflected immune activation and adaptations to oxidative stress resulting from impaired placental function. These findings indicate that Plac1 supports mechanosensitive signaling required to maintain placental structure and regulatory function. Its absence disrupts essential regulatory processes and triggers cellular stress and immune activation, contributing to fetal growth restriction, increased risk for embryopathy and preeclampsia, consistent with the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework.

ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus

PROVIDER: GSE308499 | GEO | 2026/08/03

REPOSITORIES: GEO