E-cadherin in the assessment of aberrant placental cytotrophoblast turnover in pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia.
E-cadherin is a cell-cell adhesion protein expressed in cytotrophoblasts, which is lost as they differentiate and syncytialise. We have exploited E-cadherin as a marker of cytotrophoblasts to investigate villous tissue composition in first and third trimester placentae, both in normal pregnancy and pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia. We have achieved this by measuring expression levels of E-cadherin at the mRNA level, using Q-PCR, and at the protein level using semi-quantitative Western blotting. We have also combined E-cadherin immunohistochemistry with morphometric analysis of area measurements to define cytotrophoblast and syncytiotrophoblast compartments. This novel use of E-cadherin has revealed a decrease in the proportion of cytotrophoblasts in villous tissue as pregnancy progresses, in the absence of changes in syncytiotrophoblast cover. Moreover, in pre-eclampsia, placental E-cadherin was raised compared to syncytiotrophoblast, suggesting either exaggerated cytotrophoblast proliferation or impaired cytotrophoblast differentiation, both alterations of potential pathogenic importance.
Brown
L M
LM
Division of Human Development, St Mary's Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Manchester, Hathersage Road, Manchester, M13 OJH, UK.
Lacey
H A
HA
Baker
P N
PN
Crocker
I P
IP
D000328:Adult; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D015820:Cadherins; D012333:RNA, Messenger