Zinc Oxide Exerts Anti-Inflammatory Properties on Human Placental Cells

Background: An aberrant and persistent inflammatory state at the fetal-maternal interface is considered as a key contributor in compromised pregnancies. Decidual endothelial cells (DECs) play a pivotal role in the control of the local decidual inflammation. The aim of the current study was to determine whether dietary supplement with zinc oxide (ZnO), due to its very low adverse effects, may be useful for modulating the inflammatory response in the first trimester of pregnancy. Methods: The anti-inflammatory properties of ZnO in pregnancy were evaluated by in vitro tests on endothelial cells isolated from normal deciduas and on a trophoblast cell line (HTR8/Svneo). The effects of this treatment were analyzed in terms of adhesion molecule expression and inflammatory cytokine secretion, by real time-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Our data showed that ZnO was able to reduce the inflammatory response of DECs, in terms of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression induced by TNF-α stimulation. This compound exerted no effect on intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) exocytosis induced by TNF-α on stimulated trophoblast cells, but significantly reduced their IL-6 expression. Conclusion: According to these results, it can be suggested that the ZnO supplement, through its modulation of the pro-inflammatory response of DECs, can be used in pregnancy for the prevention of local decidual inflammation.