Atractylenolide promotes trophoblast cell proliferation and migration in recurrent spontaneous abortion via ERK pathway

Purpose: To investigate the effect of atractylenolide on recurrent spontaneous abortion (RSA).Methods: The HTR-8/SVneo was established as an in vitro cell model of RSA. Cell viability and proliferation were determined using CCK8 and BrdU staining, while cell migration and invasion were determined by cell scratch and transwell assays.Results: Atractylenolide significantly increased cell viability, and enhanced the number of BrdU-positive cells of HTR-8/SVneo (p < 0.01). Atractylenolide also significantly promoted cell migration and invasion (p < 0.01), and increased protein expression of MMP-9, MMP-2, and N-cadherin, but reduced Ecadherin. Atractylenolide also increased the phosphorylation of ERK (p < 0.01).Conclusion: Atractylenolide enhances cell proliferation and migration of HTR-8/SVneo through activation of ERK signaling. Further studies using animal models are recommended to determine the protective role of atractylenolide against RSA, in vivo.