CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SLC2A1 gene knockout changes in energy metabolism and cellular behavior in human trophoblasts

Glucose transport across the placenta is essential for fetal growth and development. Glucose transporter 1, encoded by the SLC2A1 gene, plays a central role in mediating maternal-fetal glucose exchange. Dysregulation of placental glucose transport is implicated in pregnancy-related complications, such as preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction; however, the mechanistic role of SLC2A1 in trophoblast function remains poorly defined. To functionally validate the role of SLC2A1 in human trophoblasts, we used clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9-mediated knockout of the SLC2A1 gene, enabling complete and permanent loss of SLC2A1 expression. In the resulting SLC2A1 knockout human trophoblast HTR8/SVneo cells, SLC2A1 depletion induced a metabolic shift from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation, leading to increased mitochondrial respiration, ATP production, mitochondrial calcium overload, and elevated mitochondrial reactive oxygen species generation. These changes were accompanied by enhanced endoplasmic reticulum stress, as shown by the upregulation of p-PERK, IRE1α, and GRP78, as well as increased autophagic activity indicated by LC3B-II and p62 accumulation. Notably, mTOR signaling was also upregulated, suggesting a feedback loop that regulates autophagy. The loss of SLC2A1 impaired the PI3K/AKT pathway, reduced trophoblast migration and 3D spheroid formation, and disrupted epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like properties. These findings demonstrate that SLC2A1 is essential for maintaining trophoblast energy homeostasis, redox balance, and invasive capacity; its deficiency triggers mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum stress responses that may contribute to placental dysfunction during early pregnancy.