title: Alterations of maternal serum and placental follistatin-like 3 and myostatin in pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To clarify the alterations of myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, and follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3), a binding protein for myostatin, in pre-eclamptic women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of blood and placenta were collected from 40 pre-eclamptic women and 40 controls. The serum level and placental expression of FSTL3 and myostatin were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time polymerized chain reaction and western blotting.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The serum levels of myostatin and FSTL3 were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic women than in the controls (P < 0.001 for both). Placental expression of myostatin and FSTL3 were also significantly increased in the pre-eclamptic placenta compared with that of the controls (P < 0.001 for both); however, there were no significant differences in myostatin or FSTL3 in either the maternal serum or the placenta in women with mild or severe pre-eclampsia (P > 0.05 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The serum levels and placental expression of myostatin and FSTL3 are elevated in pre-eclampsia, suggesting the role of myostatin and its binding protein in pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 1 Xueshi Rd, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tian
authors.forename: Donghong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Guiyu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Hanzhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Minyue
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D038702:Follistatin-Related Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D055435:Myostatin / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D038702:Follistatin-Related Proteins; C525911:MSTN protein, human; D055435:Myostatin; D012333:RNA, Messenger