Watermelon-derived extracellular vesicles influence human ex vivo placental cell behaviour by altering intestinal secretions

Scope: During pregnancy, mother-to-fetus transfer of nutrients is mediated by the placenta; sub-optimal placental development and/or function results in fetal growth restriction (FGR), and the attendant risk of stillbirth, neurodevelopmental delay and non-communicable diseases in adulthood. A maternal diet high in fruit and vegetables lowers the risk of FGR but the association cannot be explained fully by known macro- and micronutrients.
Methods and Results: This study investigates if dietary-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) can regulate placental function. We characterise the microRNA and protein cargo of EVs isolated from watermelon, show they are actively internalised by human intestinal epithelial cells in vitro, use mass spectrometry to demonstrate that they alter the intestinal secretome and bioinformatic analyses to predict the likely affected pathways in cells/tissues distal to gut. Application of the watermelon EV-modified intestinal secretome to human placental trophoblast cells and ex-vivo tissue explants affects the trophoblast proteome and key aspects of trophoblast behaviour, including migration and syncytialisation.
Conclusion: Dietary-derived plant EVs can modify intestinal communication with distaltissues, including the placenta. Harnessing the beneficial properties of dietary-derived plant EVs and/or exploiting their potential as natural delivery agents may provide new ways to improve placental function and reduce rates of FGR.