Decreased progesterone receptor expression in the intermediate trophoblastic cells of spontaneous abortions.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether there are differences in the expression of progesterone receptor (PR) in intermediate trophoblastic cells of pregnancies ending in either spontaneous abortion (SAB) or elective abortion.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical identification of PR in intermediate trophoblastic cells.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
Subjects were 86 patients who either underwent first trimester SAB or elective abortion.


METHODS
All SAB and elective abortion specimens were serially sectioned and immunohistochemically stained for PR and for melanoma cell adhesion molecule. Melanoma cell adhesion molecule immunohistochemical staining was used as a sensitive and specific marker to identify intermediate trophoblastic cells on the adjacent tissue section.


METHODS
The PR staining of intermediate trophoblastic cells by semiquantitative immunostaining score.


RESULTS
The PR expression in intermediate trophoblastic cells was significantly greater in elective abortion specimens than in SAB specimens. When controlling for estimated gestational age, the difference in PR expression was even greater.


CONCLUSIONS
The quantity of PR in intermediate trophoblastic cells is significantly less in SAB when compared to elective abortion pregnancies. Although it is unknown whether this is a primary or secondary event, this information may be an important finding in attempting to characterize both the molecular etiology of implantation and the molecular pathophysiology of SAB.
Hickman
Timothy N
TN
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA. timothy.hickman@jhu.edu
Shih
Le-Ming
LM
Zacur
Howard A
HA
Kurman
Robert J
RJ
Diener-West
Marie
M
Gearhart
John D
JD
D000028:Abortion, Induced; D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D011247:Pregnancy; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015703:Antigens, CD; D051929:CD146 Antigen; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019006:Neural Cell Adhesion Molecules; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone