Adhesion molecules expression in the placental bed of pregnancies with pre-eclampsia

Objective To compare the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and E-selectin in placental bed biopsies (endothelium of spiral arteries as well as trophoblastic cells) from normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies
Design A prospective study.
Setting 1. First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens, Greece. 2. Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Laikon Hospital, University of Athens
Population Sixteen placental bed biopsies from women with pre-eclampsia were compared with 20 placental bed biopsies from uncomplicated normotensive women
Main outcome measures Immunocytochemical staining of the placental bed biopsies for ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1 and E-selectin
Results No statistically significant differences were found in the expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1 and E-selectin in the endothelium of the spiral arteries and the trophoblastic cells of the placental bed of the two studied groups
Conclusions Adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1, but not E-selectin, are expressed in the placental bed of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, but there are no differences between the two groups of women. It seems that the above molecules are not likely to be implicated in the aetiology of pre-eclampsia