Abundant expression of platelet-derived growth factor in spiral arteries in decidua associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension and its relevance to atherosis.
OBJECTIVE
To elucidate the role of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in the pathophysiology of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) in which the spiral arteries of the decidua demonstrate the atherosclerotic change.


METHODS
We determined serum levels of PDGF and PDGF expression in the decidua as well as serum levels of 17 beta-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) both in normotensive cases and in PIH cases. Furthermore, we investigated whether sex steroid hormones could interact with PDGF in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) by immunohistochemical staining for proliferating cell nuclear antigen.


RESULTS
Serum PDGF levels were higher (P<0.01) but serum E2 levels were lower (P<0.01) in PIH cases compared with normotensive cases. There was no statistically significant difference between serum P4 levels in PIH cases and those in normotensive cases. Immunohistochemical staining for PDGF in SMC of spiral arteries was more prominent in PIH cases than in normotensive cases. The proliferative potential of cultured SMC was stimulated by PDGF, but inhibited by concomitant treatment with PDGF and E2.


CONCLUSIONS
PDGF is suggested to play an important role in the pathophysiology of PIH through its stimulatory effect on vascular SMC proliferation which may elicit the atherosclerotic change in the spiral arteries of the placenta.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
H
H
Morita
M
M
Mizutori
K
K
Takeuchi
S
S
Motoyama
T
T
Maruo
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003656:Decidua / Q000098:blood supply*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008423:Maternal Age; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D010298:Parity; D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000097:blood; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
D010982:Platelet-Derived Growth Factor; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol