Immunolocalization of alphaV, alpha3 and beta1 integrins in the human placenta with pre-eclampsia.
Signs of pre-eclampsia are considered to be caused by maternal endothelial dysfunction due to circulating factors of placental origin. Integrins are a large family of cell surface, proteins that serve as receptors involved in cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions during placentation. Therefore, low expression of integrins or the lack of it may be encountered during pre-eclampsia. In the present study, we investigated the immunolocalisation of integrins alphaV, alpha3 and beta1 in placentas of normal and pre-eclamptic women. Thirty-two placentas from pre-eclamptic (n = 14) and normotensive (n = 18) women were used. Immunohistochemical staining was performed on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens, using anti-alphaV, anti-alpha3 and anti-beta1 antibodies and the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. A semi-quantitative grading system (HSCORE) was used to compare immunohistochemical staining intensities. Distribution patterns of alphaV, alpha3 and beta1 integrins were detected in cytotrophoblasts and Hofbauer cells in normal and pre-eclamptic placentas. Immunostaining of alphaV and beta1 integrins was slightly decreased in pre-eclamptic samples but alpha3 integrin immunostaining was similar in pre-eclamptic and normal placentas. Decreased immunostaining of integrins in the cytotrophoblasts may considered to be a structural basis for decreased placental perfusion in pre-eclampsia.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D039422:Integrin alpha3 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D039564:Integrin alphaV / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D019012:Integrin beta1 / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D010920:Placenta / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000166:cytology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy
D039422:Integrin alpha3; D039564:Integrin alphaV; D019012:Integrin beta1