Short telomeres may play a role in placental dysfunction in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.
OBJECTIVE
Telomeres shorten and aggregate with cellular senescence and oxidative stress. Telomerase and its catalytic component human telomerase reverse-transcriptase regulate telomere length. The pathogenesis of preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction involves hypoxic stress. We aimed to assess telomere length in trophoblasts from pregnancies with those complications.


METHODS
Placental specimens from 4 groups of patients were studied: severe preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia combined with intrauterine growth restriction, and uncomplicated (control). Telomere length and human telomerase reverse-transcriptase expression were assessed by using quantitative fluorescence-in-situ protocol and immunohistochemistry.


RESULTS
Telomere length was significantly lower in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, and preeclampsia plus intrauterine growth restriction placentas. More aggregates were found in preeclampsia, but not in intrauterine growth restriction placentas. Human telomerase reverse-transcriptase was significantly higher in the controls compared with the other groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Telomeres are shorter in placentas from preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction pregnancies. Increased telomere aggregate formation in preeclampsia but not in intrauterine growth restriction pregnancies, implies different placental stress-related mechanisms in preeclampsia with or without intrauterine growth restriction.
Biron-Shental
Tal
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel.
Sukenik-Halevy
Rivka
R
Sharon
Yudith
Y
Goldberg-Bittman
Lilach
L
Kidron
Dvora
D
Fejgin
Moshe D
MD
Amiel
Aliza
A
D001706:Biopsy; D016922:Cellular Senescence / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016615:Telomere / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*
D019098:Telomerase