Expression of Fas-ligand in first trimester and term human placental villi

The expression of Fas-ligand (FasL) on trophoblast cells is thought to play a role in immune regulation during human pregnancy. However, there are some discrepancies in the published data concerning the cell types expressing FasL in the placental villi. Therefore, we examined the expression of FasL on cryosections of first trimester and term placental tissue with three different anti-sera against FasL, which are in common use. By immunohistochemistry, all three anti-sera principally gave the same staining result. In the first trimester of pregnancy, villous cytotrophoblast cells underlying the syncytium, as well as all extravillous trophoblast cells of cell columns and cell islands, gave a clear, mainly membrane-located staining, whereas the syncytiotrophoblast, which forms the borderline to the maternal blood flow, only gave a spot-like reaction in distinct areas. The same result was obtained with term placental villi; however, in this tissue, the staining of the villous cytotrophoblast cells was less pronounced. From our results, we suggest that in placental villi, an important role of FasL in immune regulation is not very conclusive because this molecule is mainly expressed on trophoblast with no access to maternal blood or tissue. This is in contrast to the uterine part of the placenta, where FasL expressing trophoblast cells are in close contact with apoptotic maternal leukocytes.     

The significance of elevated placental PHLDA2 in human growth restricted pregnancies

In utero growth restriction is the failure of a fetus to achieve its genetic growth potential during gestation. Elevated expression of the maternally expressed imprinted gene PHLDA2, has been reported in the human placenta of growth restricted pregnancies. A mouse modelling this alteration has been generated and also displays fetal growth restriction suggesting that increased expression of PHLDA2 is not an effect but rather a cause of growth restriction in human pregnancies. Here we review the current data linking PHLDA2 to growth restriction and the data from human and animal model studies suggesting that placental PHLDA2 expression may be responsive to environmental stimuli such as maternal lifestyle. Further investigation is warranted in larger studies of human placentas with the aim of determining whether placental PHLDA2 expression could be used as a diagnostic tool to identify or sub-classify growth restricted infants and to inform more effective interventions and treatment for IUGR in the future.     

Adropin concentrations in term pregnancies with normal,restricted and increased fetal growth

Objective: To determine levels of adropin (implicated in insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction) in intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR), large (LGA) and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) pregnancies.

Methods: Cord-blood (UC) adropin and insulin concentrations were measured in 30 IUGR, 30 LGA and 20 AGA full-term infants and their mothers (MS).

Results: No significant differences in adropin concentrations were observed between the three groups. In the IUGR group MS adropin was significantly decreased when neonates had higher birth weights [b?= ?0.003, 95% CI??0.006 to 0.0, p?=?0.043]. In all groups, MS adropin levels were positively correlated with UC ones (r?=?0.282, p?=?0.011) and were significantly increased in female neonates [b?=?0.977, 95% CI 0.122–1.832, p?=?0.026]. In the LGA group, MS insulin was negatively correlated with UC adropin (r?= ?0.362 p?=?0.049).

Conclusions: Increased maternal adropin levels in severe IUGR cases might represent a regulatory feedback mechanism against endothelial placental dysfunction. The positive correlation between maternal and umbilical cord adropin levels implies its transplacental transfer. Increased maternal adropin levels in female neonates could be attributed to interaction of adropin with fetal estrogens through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The negative correlation between maternal insulin and fetal adropin levels in the LGA group is probably attributed to their respective insulin resistance.     

卵巢癌大网膜转移差异基因的筛选及验证

目的:通过筛选并验证卵巢癌原发灶和大网膜转移灶组织样本的差异表达基因,从中发现与卵巢癌大网膜转移相关的基因。方法:应用基因芯片检测3对配对的卵巢癌原发灶和大网膜转移灶组织样本差异基因表达谱,初步筛选出差异表达显著的基因,并通过qRT-PCR和免疫组化法验证基因芯片结果。结果:通过基因芯片检测共筛选得到187个差异性表达的mRNA,其中大网膜转移组相对于卵巢癌原发灶组表达上调的基因160个,表达下调的基因27个。初步筛选出差异表达显著的2个mRNA:Interleukin 8(IL-8)和Armadillo Repeat Containing 9(ARMC9);qRT-PCR和免疫组化结果显示,IL-8和ARMC9在大网膜转移灶中的表达均显著高于卵巢癌原发灶(P0.05)。结论:IL-8和ARMC9基因可能与卵巢癌大网膜转移有关。     

Identification of arginase in human placental villi

l-Arginine is the common substrate for arginase and nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Arginase converts l-arginine to urea and ornithine, which is the principal precursor for production of polyamines required for cell proliferation. Human placenta expresses endothelial NOS (eNOS) in syncytiotrophoblasts, but the expression of arginase has not been fully elucidated. Our aim was to investigate the expression and distribution patterns of arginase-I (A-I) and arginase-II (A-II) in human placental villi in the first trimester and at term using immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. The arginase enzyme activity in placental villi was also measured. Immunohistochemistry showed different distribution patterns of the arginase isoforms during gestation: A-I was observed only in cytotrophoblasts, while A-II was observed in both cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts. RT-PCR and Western blot analysis showed expression of A-I and A-II in the first trimester and at term in human placental villi. Expression of A-II and arginase activity was greater in the first trimester than at term. Differentiation of cytotrophoblasts into syncytiotrophoblasts may be associated with l-arginine metabolism through modulation of l-arginine availability for eNOS and A-I. And elevated arginase activity in the early gestational period may be responsible for proliferation of trophoblasts by increasing polyamines production. These results suggest that the l-arginine-ornithine-polyamine and l-arginine-nitric oxide pathways play a role in placental growth and development.     

重度子痫前期患者和正常孕妇外周血中差异表达基因的研究

目的 筛选和比较重度子痫前期患者和正常孕妇外周血中差异表达的基因,并分析其表达情况及分子功能.方法 应用基因微阵列技术,采用人类全基因组寡核苷酸芯片检测6例重度子痫前期患者(重度子痫前期组)和5例正常孕妇(对照组)外周血中的差异表达基因,分别计算重度子痫前期组6例患者的芯片信号值与对照组混合血芯片的信号值比值;以芯片的信号值比值≥2.0或≤0.5,且其q_value＜5.4%的标准来确定差异表达基因,层次聚类分析后用Gene Ontology软件确定这些基因所属的功能群.结果 筛选得到140个差异表达基因,其中86个基因表达上调,54个基因表达下调.重度子痫前期组上调基因主要参与半胱氨酸代谢、鸟氨酸循环、蛋白酶体、转化生长因子(TGF)B信号传导途径,其中钙联蛋白2(CNN2)、基质金属肽酶8(MMP8)、含V.set和免疫球蛋白域4(VSIG4)、蛋白酶体26S亚单位ATPase 5(PSMC5)的信号值比值均明显升高;下调基因主要参与自然杀伤细胞介导的细胞毒性作用、抗原呈递作用、细胞色素芳香化酶(P450)代谢途径,其中杀伤细胞免疫球蛋白样受体三域长细胞质尾2(KIR3DL2)、醇醛酮还原酶家族1成员C3(AKRlC3)、含Churchill域1(CHURC1)、溶质载体家族25成员13(SLC25A13)的信号值比值均明显下降.结论 重度子痫前期患者外周血的基因表达与正常孕妇存在着很大的差异;CNN2、MMP8、VSIG4、PSMC5、KIR3DL2、AKR1C3、CHURC1、SLC25A13等基因可能参与重度子痫前期的发病机制,需进一步验证.     

Immunocytochemical identification of mitotic Hofbauer cells in cultures of first trimester human placental villi

Summary In cultures of first trimester human placental villi, mitotic Hofbauer cells have been identified using a combined autoradiographic and immunostaining technique for the demonstration of HCG, a marker for Hofbauer cells.     

N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein levels in human intrauterine growth restricted pregnancies

BACKGROUND: N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein has a vital role in regulating cell growth and differentiation, uteroplacental vasodilatation, uterine muscle relaxation, and placental transport. These functions are compromised in intrauterine growth restriction. We aimed to investigate N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein concentrations in maternal, fetal, and neonatal plasma of intrauterine-growth-restricted and appropriate for gestational age pregnancies. METHODS: Plasma N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein levels were determined in 40 mothers and their 20 intrauterine-growth-restricted and 20 appropriate for gestational age singleton full-term fetuses and neonates on postnatal days 1 and 4. RESULTS: Fetal N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein levels were significantly lower in the intrauterine growth restriction group (b=1.166, 95%CI: 0.430-1.902, p=0.003) and correlated with the customized centiles of the infants (r=0.407, p=0.009). In the appropriate for gestational age group, neonatal day 1 N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein levels were significantly lower compared to maternal (p<0.001) and fetal (p=0.022) ones. Fetal and neonatal day 1 levels were significantly lower in males (b=-1.303, 95%CI: -2.508 to -0.097, p=0.036, and b=-0.802, 95%CI: -1.5 to -0.105, p=0.027, respectively). In the intrauterine growth restriction group, maternal N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein levels were significantly increased compared to fetal (p<0.001) and neonatal day 1 (p=0.001) levels. CONCLUSIONS: The reduced fetal N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein concentrations in intrauterine growth restriction may reflect compromised placental function and impaired fetal growth, suggesting that N-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein may be involved in the pathogenesis of intrauterine growth restriction.     

重度子痫前期胎盘组织差异表达基因片段的克隆和初步鉴定

目的:寻找并克隆子痫前期胎盘组织差异表达的基因,为重度子痫前期发生、发展的分子机制提供线索。方法:应用荧光mRNA差异显示(FDD)技术,寻找重度子痫前期患者和正常孕妇胎盘组织基因表达的差异,对获得的差异基因片段进行PCR扩增、克隆及测序,应用BLAST软件在国际基因数据库中进行测序结果同源性的分析,应用Northern杂交验证部分差异表达基因。结果:子痫前期患者胎盘差异表达基因片段18条,表达上调的10条,下调的8条,在子痫前期患者胎盘中高表达的10个基因片段中,5个分别与丝-苏氨酸蛋白磷酸酶2A催化亚基β、ATP结合盒转运子G2、细胞色素氧化酶亚单位Ⅵc、δ-氨基乙酰丙酸脱水酶基因、空泡分选蛋白29基因高度同源,2个片段虽已有同源基因序列,但功能未知,3个未找到高度同源的序列,申请后获得了新的GenBank登录号CV998051、CV998052、CV998053;在子痫前期患者胎盘中低表达的8个基因片段中,5个分别与蛋白磷酸酶1调节亚单位2、核自身抗原、DNA聚合酶ε4基因及FAM13C1基因高度同源,3个无高度同源序列,申请获得GenBank登录号CV998054、CV998055、CV998057。Northern印迹杂交验证3个新登录基因片段的表达。结论:应用FDD技术从子痫前期患者胎盘组织中克隆出18个差异表达基因片段,为子痫前期相关基因的研究提供了新方向。