ATP6V1G3 Acts as a Key Gene in Recurrent Spontaneous Abortion: An Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis

Background

Recurrent spontaneous abortion is defined as 3 or more consecutive pregnancy losses at less than 12 weeks gestation [1]. Some factors related with this condition have been identified, such as chromosome abnormality, malformation of reproductive organs, hormonal imbalance, and infection and/or inflammation [2–5]. Immune rejection of maternal and fetal boundaries related to imbalance of immune tolerance has also been suggested to be a risk factor for recurrent spontaneous abortion [6]. Immune rejection was also reported to be a cause, but 50–75% of recurrent miscarriage are unexplained [7]. Furthermore, the molecular mechanism of recurrent spontaneous abortion is yet to be determined. Publications indicated that most recurrent spontaneous abortions were mainly or partially due to genetic factors [8–10]. In recent years, numerous microarrays and sequencing data were collated and stored in databases such as GEO, TGCA, Kaplan Meier Plotter, and STING databases. Clinical features and relevant data in these databases can be freely downloaded and further analyzed [11,12] by relevant statistical software or online analysis tools. The open assess data proved a useful platform for investigation of recurrent spontaneous abortion. The present study assessed the dysregulated genes associated with development of recurrent spontaneous abortion and further investigated their biological function.

Material and Methods

DATA SERIES RELEVANT TO RECURRENT ABORTION:

The data series relevant to recurrent spontaneous abortion were screened in the GEO database (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/geo/). Two data series, GSE22490 [13] and GSE26787 [14], relevant to differentially expressed genes between recurrent miscarriage (Case group) and uncomplicated pregnancies matched for gestational age (Control group) were identified. The biological function analysis of the differentially expressed genes was performed using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEEG). The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network of the differentially expressed genes was constructed using the STRING database. Hub genes were identified using Cytohubba software.

DYSREGULATED GENES IDENTIFICATION AND FUNCTION ENRICHMENT:

The dysregulated genes in each data series (GSE22490 and GSE26787) were first screened by using the fold change (recurrent miscarriage vs. uncomplicated pregnancies matched for gestational) more than 1.2 and P<0.05. The identified dysregulated genes were further screened by use of a Venn diagram to identify overlapping genes. The biological function and pathway enrichment were performed using the online analysis software DAVID (https://david.ncifcrf.gov/) in the aspects of biological process (BP), cellular component (CC), and molecular function (MF).

PPI NETWORK ANALYSIS:

The PPI network of the 46 dysregulated genes was constructed using the STRING database through input the 46 genes in Homo sapiens.

IMMUNOHISTOCHEMISTRY ASSAY:

Thirty-one cases of recurrent spontaneous abortion were collected from the Gynecology Department of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University as the recurrent spontaneous abortion (Case) group. We also collected data from 30 patients who decided to terminate their pregnancy because of unintended pregnancy and who underwent induced abortion. The Control group was limited to patients who were more than 18 years old and did not had a recurrent spontaneous abortion history and had no family history of genetic diseases. The protein expression of ATP6V1G3 in the villi and decidua tissue of the 2 groups was detected by immunohistochemical assay. The paraffin specimens were cut into slices 4–7 μm in thickness and soaked in xylene for 10 min, absolute ethanol for 5 min, and 95%, 80%, and 79% ethanol for 5 min. After dewaxing, specimens were incubated in 3% H₂O₂ in the dark for 15 min to inactivate endogenous peroxidase, after which 0.01% mol/L sodium citrate was added at 95°C for 15 min for antigen repair. We used 100 μl normal serum containing 10% for antigen sealing. The primary antibody was diluted with 10% serum, and then dropped on the tissue at 4°C and incubated overnight. After washing with PBS and DAB staining, the slice was sealed and prepared for microscopic examination. This study was approved by Ethics Committee of the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Signed informed consent was obtained from all included subjects.

Results

IDENTIFICATION OF DYSREGULATED GENES:

Forty-six dysregulated genes were identified between the Case group and the Control group (Figure 1), as shown in the heat map in Figure 2.

GO AND KEGG ANALYSIS:

Gene ontology analysis indicated that the 46 DEGs were enriched in glutamate secretion, positive regulation of synapse assembly, T cell receptor signaling pathway, ion transmembrane transport, chemical synaptic transmission, and immune response in the aspect of biological process (BP). For the molecular function (MF), the dysregulated genes were enriched in MHC class II receptor activity, high-affinity glutamate transmembrane transporter activity, L-glutamate transmembrane transporter activity, water channel activity, amino acid transmembrane transporter activity, symporter activity, and transporter activity. KEGG pathway analysis indicated the dysregulated genes were only enriched in the glutamatergic synapse pathway (Figure 3).

PPI NETWORK AND HUB GENE ANALYSIS:

Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was analyzed by STRING database, and 83 nodes and 273 edges with the average node degreed of 6.58 were established (Figure 4). Five hub genes (ATP6V1G3, ATP6V1E1, ATP6VOD2, ATP6VOB, and ATP6V1B1) of the 46included genes were identified using Cytohubba (Figure 5).

ATP6V1G3 PROTEIN EXPRESSION:

ATP6V1G3 protein was mainly expressed in the cytoplasm with brownish stain (Figure 6). In Case group, high expression of ATP6V1G3 protein was detected in 13 (43.3%) and 10 (33.3%) for placental villus and decidual tissue, respectively. However, the high expression rate in the Control group was 23.3% and 16.7% for placental villus and decidual tissue, respectively. The ATP6V1G3 protein high expression rates were not significantly different between the Case and Control groups (P>0.05) (Table 1).

Discussion

Recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) is a common complication of pregnancy, with an incidence rate of 1–5% [15]. Due to difficulties in treatment and high medical costs, it imposes a heavy family burden for couples who are eager to have children. Its etiology is complex and the known causes are mainly genetic factors, anatomical abnormalities of the reproductive tract, endocrine abnormalities, immune dysfunction, infectious factors, and thrombotic factors and external environmental factors [16,17]. However, about half of the recurrent spontaneous abortions did not have clear causes. Recurrent spontaneous abortion is generally divided into 2 types: non-immune recurrent spontaneous abortion and immune recurrent spontaneous abortion. The etiology of non-immune recurrent spontaneous abortion has been identified, including anatomical factors such as genital tract malformation (5%), endocrine factors (20%), infectious factors (5%), and genetic and chromosomal factors (5%). Immune recurrent spontaneous abortion mainly includes the autoimmune type, which is generally caused by anti-phospholipid antibody (APA), and it is part of the anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome (APS). However, the molecular mechanism of recurrence spontaneous abortion was not completely clear. It is unknown how many genes are involved in the recurrence spontaneous abortion, and their pathway is not known [18,19].

In this present study, we selected 2 gene chip datasets on differential expression between placental tissue of recurrent spontaneous abortion patients and placental tissue of induced abortion in the GEO database. We identified found 46 overlapped genes of the 2 datasets with differential expression. These 46 genes are mainly enriched in the biological function of glutamate secretion, positive regulation of synapse assembly, T cell receptor signaling pathway, MHC class II receptor activity, high-affinity glutamate trans membrane transporter activity, L-glutamate transmembrane transporter activity, and transporter activity. KEGG pathway analysis indicated the 46 dysregulated genes were only enriched in the glutamatergic synapse pathway. This gene panel of 46 differentially expressed genes may play a key role in the development of recurrence of recurrent spontaneous abortion and could be used as a biomarker for prediction of recurrent spontaneous abortion. In addition, we also found that in the Case group, the high expression of ATP6V1G3 protein was detected in 13 (43.3%) and 10 (33.3%) for placental villus and decidual tissue, respectively. The high expression rate in the Control group was 23.3% and 16.7% for placental villus and decidual tissue, respectively. The ATP6V1G3 protein high expression rate was not significantly different between the Case and the Control groups (P>0.05). However, the Case group had higher ATP6V1G3 protein expression compared to the Control group. The non-significant difference may due to the small sample size, which was limited in statistical power. With a larger sample size, we might have found a significant difference between the 2 groups, indicating that ATP6V1G3 plays an important role in the development of recurrent spontaneous abortion. However, its molecular mechanism in recurrent spontaneous abortion development remains unclear.

Conclusions

We found differential gene expression profiles between the Case group and th Control group, which may provide useful information for further research on differential gene expression in recurrent spontaneous abortion. Upregulation of the gene ATP6V1G3 may play an important role in the development of recurrent miscarriage. However, the molecular mechanism by whichATP6V1G3 is involved in the development of recurrent spontaneous abortion was not investigated, and further biology experiments are need to explore the molecular function of ATP6V1G3 in recurrent spontaneous abortion.