title: Overproduction of the follistatin-related gene protein in the placenta and maternal serum of women with pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterise the follistatin-related gene (FLRG) in pre-eclampsia, one of the differentially expressed genes in pre-eclamptic placenta.
  
  
  METHODS
  We examined and compared the messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein levels of FLRG in placentas and maternal sera from women with uncomplicated pregnancy, and those with pre-eclampsia using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Antenatal clinics in a teaching hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Women with uncomplicated pregnancy (n = 21) and those with pre-eclampsia (n = 21).
  
  
  RESULTS
  FLRG mRNA is overexpressed in pre-eclamptic placental tissues (P < 0.01). Upregulated FLRG protein consists of both an immature 28-kDa cellular product and a mature 33-kDa secretory form, which are differentially glycosylated. FLRG is normally produced at its highest levels in endothelial cells and at moderate amounts in syncytiotrophoblast cells, but in pre-eclampsia, the syncytiotrophoblast FLRG levels are dramatically increased. We also determined the maternal serum concentrations of FLRG in our uncomplicated pregnancy subjects and in our pre-eclamptic groups, and found that they are significantly elevated in pre-eclampsia in a similar manner to activin A and inhibin A. However, the increase in FLRG in these cases is independent of activin A or inhibin A, and is associated with low-birthweight outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our current data show the placental and secretory changes of FLRG protein in pre-eclampsia, and also indicate the potential usefulness of FLRG as an additional diagnostic marker for pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Toyoake, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pryor-Koishi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nishizawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kato
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kogo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsuchida
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurahashi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Udagawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D038681:Follistatin / Q000378:metabolism; D038702:Follistatin-Related Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D038681:Follistatin; D038702:Follistatin-Related Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger