title: Complex expression changes of the placental endothelin system in early and late onset preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction and gestational diabetes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are major pregnancy complications affecting maternal and fetal health. The placenta and the vasoconstrictor endothelin-1 (ET-1) have a controlling and mediating role in these conditions. This study tested the hypothesis that the expression of ET-1 and its receptors (ET(A) and ET(B)) is altered in these pathologies and differs between early (gestational week [GW] ≤ 34) and late (GW > 34) third trimester pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 88 women (GW 28-41) with PE (blood pressure >140/90 mmHg, protein >300 mg/24 hrs; n=14), FGR (<10th birthweight centile and pathological umbilical blood flow; n=13), PE+FGR (n=5) and GDM (n=21), and gestational age-matched controls (n=35). ET-1, ET(A) and ET(B) mRNA and ET(A) and ET(B) protein were quantified in placental tissues by real-time PCR and immunoblotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ET/ETR mRNA system is altered in PE and PE+FGR and GDM. Expression of ET-1, ET(A) and ET(B) is upregulated in early onset PE and PE+FGR with stronger effect in PE+FGR. GDM down regulated ET/ETR mRNA in the placentas in late third trimester of pregnancy. ET/ETR protein is virtually unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early onset PE (≤GW34) with or without FGR is associated with increased mRNA expression of the ET/ETR system, while in late onset PE and GDM the opposite effect was observed. This study supports the emerging concept that early and late onset PE are different diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Austria. martina.dieber@medunigraz.at
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dieber-Rotheneder
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Beganovic
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Desoye
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: Mila
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cervar-Zivkovic
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016640:Diabetes, Gestational / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000503:physiopathology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000235:genetics*; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000235:genetics*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B