title: Levels of heat shock protein 27 in placentae from small for gestational age newborns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent data suggest that hsp27, a low-molecular-weight heat shock protein, exerts important cellular actions, including the modulation of oestrogen action. We investigated whether hsp27 was differentially expressed in placental samples from small for gestational age (SGA) neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was performed in an academic hospital. Samples of villous tissue were obtained from placentae of 31 SGA (n = 16) or adequate to gestational age neonates (n = 15) delivered vaginally. The histological distribution of hsp27 in placental villi was investigated by immunohistochemistry, and the concentration of the protein was quantified by ELISA. Differences between groups were assessed by the nonparametric Mann-Whitney U test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Specific staining for hsp27 was detected in trophoblastic cells in most of the villi. The levels of hsp27 were lower in placentae from SGA neonates than from adequate to gestational age neonates.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of hsp27 was reduced in placentae from SGA neonates. Further work is required in order to clarify the role of hsp27 in placental physiology.
authors.affiliation: Service of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Fundación para la Investigación Hospital Universitario Dr Peset,  Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cañete
authors.forename: Aitana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Monllor
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pineda
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tarín
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cano
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D055551:HSP27 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006360:Heat-Shock Proteins