Alkaloid leonurine exerts anti‐inflammatory effects via modulating MST1 expression in trophoblast cells

BACKGROUND: Pre‐eclampsia (PE) is mainly attributed to the inflammation of trophoblast cells in pregnant women, which results in damage to the maternal organs and growth retardation of the fetus. Alkaloid leonurine (LNR) is a plant compound and has anti‐inflammatory effects. Here we aimed to investigate the effects of LNR on human and mouse trophoblast cells and the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: The levels of the inflammatory factors in trophoblast cells under lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation were analyzed with ELISA. Western blot was employed to examine the protein expression. Trophoblast cells in Mammalian ste20‐like kinase 1 (MST1(−/−)) or wild type (WT) mice were isolated to examine the expression of signal molecules in the nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) pathway. Concentration‐dependent activity of NF‐κB was examined. The regulation of LNR and MST1 in MST1(−/−) trophoblast cells was studied as well. RESULTS: Our data showed that LNR exhibited anti‐inflammatory effects and suppressed the NF‐κB signaling by inhibiting LPS‐induced inflammation in trophoblast cells. LNR upregulated the expression of MST1, and the anti‐inflammatory role of LNR was greatly relieved in MST1‐knockout trophoblast cells, although it displayed weak roles in NF‐κB signaling. CONCLUSION: LNR exhibits anti‐inflammatory effects on human and mouse trophoblast cells by upregulating MST1 in the NF‐κB signal pathway.