Neurotrophin (NT) is important in the survival, maintenance and differentiation of neuronal tissue, and functions in follicle maturation, tumor growth, angiogenesis and immunomodulation; however, the expression of NT and its receptors (NTR) in human placenta and their influence on fetal growth are unclear. Here we investigated the correlation of NT and NTR in human placenta with uterine environment and fetal growth. TrkB, a NTR, mRNA was expressed on decidual and villous tissue and increased with gestational age, localizing in the trophoblast layer and endothelium by immunohistochemistry. Villous TrkB mRNA was significantly increased in preeclampsia (PE) than in controls and was higher in the normotensive small for gestational age (SGA) placenta, although it was not significant. It was also significantly increased in the small twin of discordant twin pregnancies. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), the main ligand of TrkB, was expressed in membranous chorion and villous tissue and was significantly higher in maternal plasma in normotensive SGA and PE than in controls. TrkB mRNA expression was up-regulated on cultured villous tissue explants and on JEG-3, a choriocarcinoma cell line, by H(2)O(2) treatment. BDNF decreased apoptotic cells in H(2)O(2)-treated JEG-3, indicating that BDNF/TrkB signaling had anti-apoptotic effects against oxidative stress in JEG-3, suggesting a protective role of BDNF/TrkB in human villous tissue under unfavorable conditions in utero.
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