# Rosiglitazone-Mediated Activation of PPARγ Induces PlGF Expression in Trophoblast Cells

## TL;DR

Rosiglitazone activates PPARγ to increase PlGF in trophoblast cells, offering a potential treatment for preeclampsia.

## Contribution

This study identifies the PPARγ-GCM1-PlGF pathway as a novel therapeutic target for placental dysfunction in preeclampsia.

## Key findings

- Rosiglitazone increases PlGF production in trophoblast cells under hypoxic conditions.
- PPARγ activation rescues PlGF expression in 1.5% oxygen/reoxygenation-stressed cells.
- PPARγ is essential for GCM1-driven PlGF expression in trophoblasts.

## Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) is a hypertensive pregnancy disorder marked by impaired trophoblast invasion and placental vascular dysfunction, resulting in severe maternal and fetal complications. Placental growth factor (PlGF) is critical for proper placental angiogenesis and is transcriptionally regulated by glial cell missing-1 (GCM1), a downstream effector of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ). Decreased PPARγ activity in PE may therefore contribute to diminished PlGF levels, worsening placental pathology. In this study, we investigated the mechanistic role of rosiglitazone, a PPARγ agonist, in rescuing PlGF expression under 1.5% oxygen/reoxygenation stress mimicking PE. Using JEG-3 trophoblast cells, we show that rosiglitazone enhances PPARγ nuclear translocation, leading to increased GCM1 and cyto-protective heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression, and subsequent upregulation of PlGF production under both 21% oxygen and 1.5% oxygen/reoxygenation conditions. Pharmacologic inhibition of PPARγ with T0070907 or siRNA-mediated knockdown abrogated these effects, underscoring PPARγ’s essential role in maintaining GCM1-driven PlGF expression. Notably, rosiglitazone treatment rescued PlGF production in 1.5% oxygen/reoxygenation-stressed cells, highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy to mitigate placental dysfunction. These findings define the PPARγ-GCM1-PlGF axis as a mechanistic cornerstone of placental health and suggest that pharmacological activation of PPARγ may offer clinical benefit in improving pregnancy outcomes in PE.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43032-025-01868-w.