title: Influence of maternal smoking on trophoblast apoptosis throughout development: possible involvement of Xiap regulation.
abstract: Maternal smoking is associated with severe perinatal complications and significant placental pathologies with underlying ultrastructural changes. In this study, we examined the influence of maternal smoking on trophoblast apoptosis throughout development and correlated those findings with changes in expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (Xiap) as well as Fas and Fas ligand (FasL). Trophoblast apoptosis was determined by DNA fragmentation and TUNEL. Protein expression was assessed by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Maternal smoking was associated with increased trophoblast apoptosis in the first trimester but decreased trophoblast apoptosis near term. Placental Xiap levels decreased significantly throughout development in nonsmokers (P < 0.05) but remained elevated in smokers. Fas and FasL levels did not vary significantly throughout development nor between groups. However, procaspase-3 levels were significantly increased in smokers at term. Our results suggest that maternal smoking has different effects at different stages of trophoblast differentiation and that this is regulated in part through modulations in placental Xiap expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Ottawa/The Ottawa Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L6, Canada. agruslin@ottawahospital.on.ca
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gruslin
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Tsang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004792:Enzyme Precursors / Q000378:metabolism; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D011247:Pregnancy; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology*; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D004792:Enzyme Precursors; C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D018809:Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen; D011506:Proteins; D051636:X-Linked Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein; C496866:XIAP protein, human; D019014:fas Receptor; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases