Vascular endothelial growth factor, fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1) and soluble Flt-1 gene expressions in Korean pre-eclamptic placentas.
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.
Park
Jong-Sik
JS
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eulji University School of Medicine, Daejeon, Korea.
Baik
Haing-Woon
HW
Lee
Seong-Kyu
SK
Na
Woo-Suk
WS
Song
Young-Rae
YR
Yang
Yun-Suk
YS
Park
Mi-Hae
MH
Hwang
In-Taek
IT
Park
Joon-Sook
JS
Oh
Kwan-Young
KY
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*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1