Abnormal fetal growth is not associated with altered chorionic villous expression of vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA.
Altered placental and circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor (flt-1) may be associated with pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). The aim of this study was to determine whether chorionic villous VEGF or flt-1 mRNA are altered at early gestation in pregnancies subsequently found to be complicated by abnormal fetal growth. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was performed on chorionic villous samples for VEGF and flt-1 using an internal RNA standard. Using the individualized birthweight ratio (IBR), the subjects (n = 51) were divided into three groups; IUGR (IBR <10th centile, n = 6), normal (IBR 10th-90th centiles, n = 41) and macrosomic (IBR >90th centile, n = 4). There was no correlation between the mRNA expression of VEGF(121) or VEGF(165) and gestational age of the normal controls. There was also no difference in the expression of either of the VEGF isoforms between the IUGR or macrosomic groups and the normal controls. Expression of flt-1 was below the detection limit of the assay. In conclusion, we have found that altered chorionic villous expression of VEGF is not associated with the initial stages of development of IUGR or macrosomia.
Lash
G
G
School of Human Development, University of Nottingham, City Hospital, Nottingham, UK. lashg@post.queensu.ca
MacPherson
A
A
Liu
D
D
Smith
D
D
Charnock-Jones
S
S
Baker
P
P
D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015193:Chorionic Villi Sampling; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005320:Fetal Macrosomia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D012016:Reference Values; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D000199:Actins; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1