Increase in the relative level of type V collagen in the placentae of patients with pre-eclampsia.
To obtain some insight into the extracellular matrix in the human placenta, we investigated the composition of collagens purified from the placentae of patients with pre-eclampsia and compared it with normal placentae. Collagen was extracted from the placentae of both normal and pre-eclampsia pregnancies during the third trimester. The relative amounts of various collagens were evaluated by sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The ratio of the intensity of the band corresponding to the alpha 1 (III) chain with that of the alpha 1 (I) chain in placentae of pre-eclampsia was significantly lower than in normal placentae (P < 0.05). In contrast, the ratio of the intensity of the band corresponding to the alpha 1 (V) chain with that of the alpha 1 (I) chain in placentae of pre-eclampsia was significantly higher than in normal placentae (P < 0.05). The results suggest that an increased level of type V collagen relative to type I collagen in the placentae of pre-eclampsia might be closely associated with the disturbance to trophoblastic cell functions and the supply of nutrients to the developing fetus necessary for the maintenance of pregnancy.
Iwahashi
M
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Wakayama Medical College, Japan.
Ooshima
A
A
Nakano
R
R
D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012016:Reference Values
D003094:Collagen