Metformin Corrects Glucose Metabolism Reprogramming and NLRP3 Inflammasome-Induced Pyroptosis via Inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB/PFKFB3 Signaling in Trophoblasts: Implication for a Potential Therapy of Preeclampsia

Figure 4

Pharmacological concentration of MET suppressed overactive glycolysis in trophoblasts partly via inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB signaling. (a) Double labeling the immunofluorescence analysis of PFKFB3 (red) protein expression and localization in the placentae from full-term normal pregnancies and preeclampsia patients. DAPI (blue) and CK7 (green) for trophoblast localization. Scale bar: 50 μm. (b, c) Western blot analysis of PFKFB3 protein expression and the densitometry quantification. (d) Extracellular lactate release determination. (e–g) Glycolysis and glycolysis capacity were both detected by ECAR assay. (h) Cellular ATP concentration determination. Data are shown as the from three independent experiments. , , and by Student’s -test. SD: standard deviation; NC-OE: negative vector; TLR4-OE: TLR4 overexpression plasmid.

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