title: Vascular endothelial growth factor, fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) and soluble Flt-1 gene expressions in Korean pre-eclamptic placentas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1), and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) genes in healthy normotensive and pre-eclamptic placentas of Korean women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated 12 healthy normotensive pregnant women and 10 pre-eclamptic pregnant women at Eulji University Hospital. The obtained placental tissues were analyzed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sFlt-1 messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level was elevated 2.6 times more in pre-eclamptic placentas than in normal control placentas. However, the VEGF mRNA level of pre-eclamptic placentas was decreased. There was no difference in the Flt-1 mRNA level between control and pre-eclamptic placentas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that expressions of genes relating to angiogenesis were altered in Korean pre-eclamptic placentas. These results suggest that the alteration in expressions of sFlt-1 and VEGF genes might be associated with the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Sik
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Haing-Woon
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Baik
authors.forename: Seong-Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Woo-Suk
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: Young-Rae
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Yun-Suk
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Mi-Hae
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: In-Taek
authors.initials: IT
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Joon-Sook
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kwan-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Oh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1