Placental trophoblast aging in advanced maternal age is related to increased oxidative damage and decreased YAP

The advanced maternal age (AMA) pregnancies escalate rapidly, which are frequently linked to higher risks of adverse outcomes. Advanced maternal age (AMA) placenta exhibited premature aging, presumably resulting in trophoblast dysfunction, inadequate placentation. However, the precise reasons and mechanisms of trophoblast aging in AMA placenta remain unclear, posing a significant limitation to provide effective guidance for prenatal healthcare in clinical settings. Notably, the organism shows heightened vulnerability to oxidative damage as it ages. YAP (Yes-associated protein) was reported to play a critical role in regulation of aging and resisting oxidative damage, yet these roles had not been elucidated in the placenta. Therefore, this study explored the relationship between trophoblast cell aging and oxidative injury and YAP in AMA pregnancy, which not only provided an insight into the mechanisms of trophoblast cell aging, but also provide valuable directions for healthcare during AMA pregnancy.

In this study, human term placentas were collected from AMA and normal pregnancies for the analysis of aging, oxidative damage and YAP level. HTR8/SVneo cells were manipulated with (hydrogen peroxide) H₂O₂ to explore the effects of oxidative damage on trophoblast cell senescence and YAP levels. YAP expression in HTR8/SVneo cells was manipulated to investigate its role in trophoblastic senescence and oxidative damage.

Compared with the control group, the AMA placenta exhibits increased aging biomarkers, which is coupled with an elevation in oxidative damage within placental trophoblast cells and a notable decline in YAP levels. Cellular experiments demonstrated that oxidative damage from H₂O₂ triggered trophoblast cell senescence and resulted in a reduction of YAP levels. Furthermore, employing molecular modification to silence YAP expression in these cells led to an induction of aging. Conversely, overexpressing YAP ameliorated both trophoblast cell aging and the associated DNA oxidative damage that arised from H₂O₂.

The decline of YAP in AMA pregnancy should be responsible for the increased oxidative injury and premature placenta aging, indicating that YAP plays a significant role in combating oxidative damage and delaying aging, thereby providing a new guidance for prenatal care in AMA pregnancies. Maintaining YAP levels or implementing anti-oxidative stress interventions could potentially mitigate the incidence of complications involved AMA pregnancy.