Aim: We studied the effect of pre-eclampsia sera on the expression of placenta growth factor (PlGF), soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF-1), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mRNAs in JEG-3 cells (trophoblast-derived cells) and placenta from pre-eclampsia patients to investigate pre-eclampsia pathophysiology.
Material and methods: Placenta and serum samples were taken from pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy patients. JEG-3 cells were cultured with pre-eclampsia and normal pregnant sera in 24-well tissue culture plates. RNA was purified from placental trophoblast cells and JEG-3 cells 24 h after incubation. The expression of mRNA was measured using real-time polymerase chain reaction.
Results: The expression of sFlt-1 mRNA increased, and that of PlGF and HO-1 mRNA decreased in JEG-3 cells after incubation with pre-eclampsia sera. The expression of PlGF mRNA decreased, and that of sFlt-1mRNA increased in pre-eclampsia placenta. The expression of MTF-1 and HO-1 mRNA decreased. A correlation was found between PlGF mRNA expression and the expression of MTF-1 and HIF-1α mRNA. A correlation between sFlt-1 and HIF-1α mRNA expression was also found.
Conclusion: Changes in PlGF mRNA expression in pre-eclampsia placenta may relate to serum factors and the expression of MTF-1 and HIF-α mRNA. Changes in sFlt-1mRNA expression may relate to serum factors and the expression of HIF-α mRNA. We suggest that serum factors play a role in PlGF and sFlt-1 expression in pre-eclampsia placenta.
Keywords: heme oxygenase 1; metal-responsive transcription factor-1; placenta growth factor; pre-eclampsia; soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1.
© 2014 The Authors. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research © 2014 Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology.