Effects of Bisphenol A on endogenous retroviral envelopes expression and trophoblast fusion in BeWo cells

Placenta is a target organ of Bisphenol A (BPA). To investigate possible effects on syncytiotrophoblast, the exchanging surface between mother and fetus, we exposed a trophoblast model (BeWo) to BPA concentrations occurring in humans (1 and 50 nM). We assessed the gene and protein expression of three human endogenous retroviral envelopes, specifically expressed in placenta (ERVW-1, ERVFRD-1 and ERV3-1), the secretion of beta-hCG, the extent of trophoblast fusion and the activity of apoptosis markers (caspases 8, 3, 9 and PARP); additionally, the gene expression of transcription factors regulating HERV expression (i.e. GCM1, PPAR gamma, ER alpha and ER beta) was evaluated. At 50 nM, BPA induced ERVW-1, ERVFRD-1 and the corresponding syncytin proteins, ERV3-1, PPAR gamma, ER alpha and ER beta expression, increased beta-hCG secretion and BeWo cells fusion, thus promoting the syncytiotrophoblast phenotype. The results support placenta as a target organ of BPA. Possible implications on fetal and pregnancy health should be carefully considered.