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Cells
Volume 14
Issue 17
10.3390/cells14171317
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Maternal Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEPs) During Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Focusing on the Effect of Particulate Matter on Trophoblast, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

by
Hyewon Hur
1,2,
Hayan Kwon
1,2,
Yun Ji Jung
1,2,
Euna Choi
1,
Joonggyeong Shin
3,
Subin Jo
1,
Yeji Lee
1,2,
Min-A Kim
4,
Yong-Sun Maeng
1,2,*,† and
Ja-Young Kwon
1,2,*,†
1
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
2
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecoloty, Institute of Women’s Life Medical Science, Yonsei University Health System, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
3
Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Republic of Korea
4
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 06273, Republic of Korea
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Cells 2025, 14(17), 1317; https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171317
Submission received: 28 June 2025 / Revised: 9 August 2025 / Accepted: 22 August 2025 / Published: 26 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Placental Matrix: Trophoblasts, Decidualization, and Embryo Implantation)
Versions Notes

Abstract

During pregnancy, exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), particularly diesel exhaust particles (DEPs), elevates the risk of placental dysfunction-related pregnancy complications; however, the underlying cellular mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of PM2.5 exposure on trophoblast functions and their interaction with endometrial stromal cells. We utilized a three-dimensional (3D) model in which human first-trimester trophoblasts (Sw71) formed blastocyst-like spheroids and were cultured with human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs). Trophoblast proliferation, migration, invasion, and 3D network formation following DEP exposure (0.5–20 μg/mL) were assessed using methyl thiazolyl diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT), wound healing, migration, and invasion assays. The expression levels of genes related to the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) were quantified by real-time reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). DEP exposure significantly inhibited trophoblast proliferation, migration, and invasion. DEP treatment dysregulated the EMT program by significantly decreasing the expression of key mesenchymal markers (SNAI1, SNAI2, SOX2, and KLF4) while upregulating epithelial markers. These changes may be related to inhibited trophoblast migration toward HESC monolayers and 3D invasive network formation. DEP directly impairs critical trophoblast functions that are essential for successful pregnancy. Disruption of the EMT program represents a molecular mechanism by which traffic-related air pollution contributes to placental dysfunction and pregnancy complications, highlighting the significant reproductive risks posed by ambient air pollution.
Keywords: particulate matter; trophoblast; epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) particulate matter; trophoblast; epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)

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MDPI and ACS Style

Hur, H.; Kwon, H.; Jung, Y.J.; Choi, E.; Shin, J.; Jo, S.; Lee, Y.; Kim, M.-A.; Maeng, Y.-S.; Kwon, J.-Y. Maternal Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEPs) During Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Focusing on the Effect of Particulate Matter on Trophoblast, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Cells 2025, 14, 1317. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171317

AMA Style

Hur H, Kwon H, Jung YJ, Choi E, Shin J, Jo S, Lee Y, Kim M-A, Maeng Y-S, Kwon J-Y. Maternal Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEPs) During Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Focusing on the Effect of Particulate Matter on Trophoblast, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Cells. 2025; 14(17):1317. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171317

Chicago/Turabian Style

Hur, Hyewon, Hayan Kwon, Yun Ji Jung, Euna Choi, Joonggyeong Shin, Subin Jo, Yeji Lee, Min-A Kim, Yong-Sun Maeng, and Ja-Young Kwon. 2025. "Maternal Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEPs) During Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Focusing on the Effect of Particulate Matter on Trophoblast, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition" Cells 14, no. 17: 1317. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171317

APA Style

Hur, H., Kwon, H., Jung, Y. J., Choi, E., Shin, J., Jo, S., Lee, Y., Kim, M.-A., Maeng, Y.-S., & Kwon, J.-Y. (2025). Maternal Exposure to Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEPs) During Pregnancy and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes: Focusing on the Effect of Particulate Matter on Trophoblast, Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Cells, 14(17), 1317. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14171317

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