Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology | |
Down-regulation of the transcription factor snail in the placentas of patients with preeclampsia and in a rat model of preeclampsia | |
关键词: Preeclampsia; Placenta; Snail; Trophoblast; E-cadherin; | |
DOI : 10.1186/1477-7827-10-15 | |
来源: DOAJ |
【 摘 要 】
Abstract
Background
Placental malfunction in preeclampsia is believed to be a consequence of aberrant differentiation of trophoblast lineages and changes in utero-placental oxygenation. The transcription factor Snail, a master regulator molecule of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in embryonic development and in cancer, is shown to be involved in trophoblast differentiation as well. Moreover, Snail can be controlled by oxidative stress and hypoxia. Therefore, we examined the expression of Snail and its downstream target, e-cadherin, in human normal term, preterm and preeclamptic placentas, and in pregnant rats that developed preeclampsia-like symptoms in the response to a 20-fold increase in sodium intake.
Methods
Western blotting analysis was used for comparative expression of Snail and e- cadherin in total protein extracts. Placental cells expressing Snail and e-cadherin were identified by immunohistochemical double-labeling technique.
Results
The levels of Snail protein were decreased in human preeclamptic placentas by 30% (
Conclusion
We demonstrated that human preeclampsia and the salt-induced rat model of preeclampsia are associated with the reduced levels of Snail protein in placenta. Down-regulation of the transcription factor Snail in placental progenitor cell lineages, either by intrinsic defects and/or by extrinsic and maternal factors, may affect normal placenta development and function and thus contribute to the pathology of preeclampsia.
【 授权许可】
Unknown