Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion: focus on autophagy regulation

IntroductionRecurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) represents a significant clinical challenge, with its underlying mechanisms yet to be fully elucidated. Despite advances in understanding, the precise pathophysiology driving RSA remains unclear. Angelica sinensis, a traditional herbal remedy, is freq...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Yeli Sun, Guohua Li, Mengwen Kong, Junyuan Li, Shuyun Wang, Yuan Tan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-01-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1522503/full
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1841527853373456384
author Yeli Sun
Guohua Li
Mengwen Kong
Junyuan Li
Shuyun Wang
Yuan Tan
author_facet Yeli Sun
Guohua Li
Mengwen Kong
Junyuan Li
Shuyun Wang
Yuan Tan
author_sort Yeli Sun
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionRecurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) represents a significant clinical challenge, with its underlying mechanisms yet to be fully elucidated. Despite advances in understanding, the precise pathophysiology driving RSA remains unclear. Angelica sinensis, a traditional herbal remedy, is frequently used as an adjunctive treatment for miscarriage. However, it remains uncertain whether its primary active component, Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP), plays a definitive role in its therapeutic effects. The specific function and mechanism of ASP in the context of RSA require further investigation.MethodsIn this study, we sought to evaluate autophagy levels at the maternal-fetal interface in RSA patients and in an RSA mouse model treated with ASP, complemented by a comprehensive metabolomic analysis. Autophagy flux in the decidua was compared between eight RSA patients and eight healthy pregnant women. Additionally, changes in autophagy flux were assessed in an RSA mouse model following ASP treatment, with embryos and placental tissues collected for subsequent metabolomic profiling.ResultsOur results revealed a significant reduction in Beclin 1 protein levels in the decidua of RSA patients compared to the normal pregnancy group. Conversely, ASP treatment in the RSA mouse model restored autophagy-related protein expression, including ATG7, ATG16L, and Beclin 1, to levels higher than those observed in the untreated RSA group. Metabolomic analyses further identified significant changes in phosphatidylethanolamine levels between ASP-treated and control groups, with differential metabolites enriched in pathways related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, glycerolipid metabolism, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. Functional assays revealed that ASP enhances trophoblast cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.ConclusionIn summary, our findings demonstrate diminished autophagy activity in RSA patients, while ASP appears to restore autophagy and regulate key metabolic pathways, including glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. These results provide new insights into the protective mechanisms of ASP in RSA, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic intervention for this condition.
format Article
id doaj-art-c2b89008591b42ccb394ddb606eabac6
institution Kabale University
issn 2296-858X
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-c2b89008591b42ccb394ddb606eabac62025-01-15T06:10:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-01-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15225031522503Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion: focus on autophagy regulationYeli Sun0Guohua Li1Mengwen Kong2Junyuan Li3Shuyun Wang4Yuan Tan5Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Department of Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Institute of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and Gynecologic Oncology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Integrated Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Western Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, ChinaIntroductionRecurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA) represents a significant clinical challenge, with its underlying mechanisms yet to be fully elucidated. Despite advances in understanding, the precise pathophysiology driving RSA remains unclear. Angelica sinensis, a traditional herbal remedy, is frequently used as an adjunctive treatment for miscarriage. However, it remains uncertain whether its primary active component, Angelica sinensis polysaccharide (ASP), plays a definitive role in its therapeutic effects. The specific function and mechanism of ASP in the context of RSA require further investigation.MethodsIn this study, we sought to evaluate autophagy levels at the maternal-fetal interface in RSA patients and in an RSA mouse model treated with ASP, complemented by a comprehensive metabolomic analysis. Autophagy flux in the decidua was compared between eight RSA patients and eight healthy pregnant women. Additionally, changes in autophagy flux were assessed in an RSA mouse model following ASP treatment, with embryos and placental tissues collected for subsequent metabolomic profiling.ResultsOur results revealed a significant reduction in Beclin 1 protein levels in the decidua of RSA patients compared to the normal pregnancy group. Conversely, ASP treatment in the RSA mouse model restored autophagy-related protein expression, including ATG7, ATG16L, and Beclin 1, to levels higher than those observed in the untreated RSA group. Metabolomic analyses further identified significant changes in phosphatidylethanolamine levels between ASP-treated and control groups, with differential metabolites enriched in pathways related to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, glycerolipid metabolism, and glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism. Functional assays revealed that ASP enhances trophoblast cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.ConclusionIn summary, our findings demonstrate diminished autophagy activity in RSA patients, while ASP appears to restore autophagy and regulate key metabolic pathways, including glycolysis/gluconeogenesis. These results provide new insights into the protective mechanisms of ASP in RSA, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic intervention for this condition.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1522503/fullrecurrent spontaneous abortionAngelica sinensis polysaccharideautophagymetabolomicsBeclin 1
spellingShingle Yeli Sun
Guohua Li
Mengwen Kong
Junyuan Li
Shuyun Wang
Yuan Tan
Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion: focus on autophagy regulation
Frontiers in Medicine
recurrent spontaneous abortion
Angelica sinensis polysaccharide
autophagy
metabolomics
Beclin 1
title Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion: focus on autophagy regulation
title_full Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion: focus on autophagy regulation
title_fullStr Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion: focus on autophagy regulation
title_full_unstemmed Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion: focus on autophagy regulation
title_short Angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion: focus on autophagy regulation
title_sort angelica sinensis polysaccharide as potential protectants against recurrent spontaneous abortion focus on autophagy regulation
topic recurrent spontaneous abortion
Angelica sinensis polysaccharide
autophagy
metabolomics
Beclin 1
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1522503/full
work_keys_str_mv AT yelisun angelicasinensispolysaccharideaspotentialprotectantsagainstrecurrentspontaneousabortionfocusonautophagyregulation
AT guohuali angelicasinensispolysaccharideaspotentialprotectantsagainstrecurrentspontaneousabortionfocusonautophagyregulation
AT mengwenkong angelicasinensispolysaccharideaspotentialprotectantsagainstrecurrentspontaneousabortionfocusonautophagyregulation
AT junyuanli angelicasinensispolysaccharideaspotentialprotectantsagainstrecurrentspontaneousabortionfocusonautophagyregulation
AT shuyunwang angelicasinensispolysaccharideaspotentialprotectantsagainstrecurrentspontaneousabortionfocusonautophagyregulation
AT yuantan angelicasinensispolysaccharideaspotentialprotectantsagainstrecurrentspontaneousabortionfocusonautophagyregulation