Placental overexpression of transforming growth factor-beta3 in the HELLP syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the placental expression of transforming growth factor-beta3 (TGF-beta3) in patients with HELLP syndrome and pre-eclampsia compared to controls, and its correlation to Doppler velocimetry analysis of the utero-placental blood flow.


METHODS
Real-time PCR analysis was performed, after cesarean section, in placental samples from 10 women affected by HELLP syndrome, 10 women with pre-eclampsia and 10 controls. Pulsatility indices on Doppler waveform analysis from uterine and umbilical arteries were measured.


RESULTS
The mean TGF-beta3 expression was significantly higher in patients with HELLP syndrome compared with the control group (p < 0.001), and no difference was observed in the pre-eclampsia group. TGF-beta3 expression correlated positively with umbilical PI (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
TGF-beta3 may play a key role as regulator of a variety of cellular events occurring during HELLP syndrome, high local expression of this growth factor may be responsible for remodeling of the placental structure, which results in the dysfunction of maternal-fetal circulation.
Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
M
M
Emanuelli
S R
SR
Giannubilo
B
B
Landi
D
D
Sartini
F
F
Pierella
A
A
Corradetti
A L
AL
Tranquilli
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler; D014469:Umbilical Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014599:Uterus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
D053782:Transforming Growth Factor beta3