Circular RNAs correlate with DNA damage in ageing human placental tissue and in stillbirth

Abstract

Unexplained stillbirth may occur due to premature placental ageing, with unexpected deterioration of placental function for gestational age. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are enzyme-resistant RNA molecules that accumulate in ageing tissues. Furthermore, circRNAs bind gDNA directly, forming circRNA:DNA complexes which can induce DNA breaks. This study investigated circRNA accumulation with gestational age in healthy and stillbirth placentae and determined whether circRNAs directly interact with placental DNA causing DNA damage. Placenta samples (n=60 term uncomplicated; n=4 unexplained stillbirth) were assessed. Compared with earlier gestations (37, 38, 39, 40 weeks), placental DNA damage and expression of 6 candidate circRNAs (circ_0009000, circ_0024157, circ_0061017, circ_0036877, circ_0054624 and circ_0111277), but not their linear transcripts, were increased in 40 and 41+ weeks gestation samples, and in stillbirth. DRIP-qPCR signal size was significantly larger in term placentae than in enzyme-treated controls, confirming that all candidate circRNA loci bind to placental DNA. Depletion of circ_0009000 by specific siRNA in HEK293T cells, significantly reduced DNA damage compared to control, and increased expression of senescence-associated genes.

Stillbirth placentae show accelerated ageing with premature accumulation of candidate circRNAs at levels consistent with older gestation tissue. These circRNAs bind to DNA and circ_0009000 causes DNA breaks and senescence in placenta. Therefore, circRNAs play a role in placental ageing and associate with stillbirth, likely via DNA damage.

Graphical Abstract

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