The expression of pentraxin 3 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha is increased in preeclamptic placental tissue and maternal serum.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the expression of pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in preeclampsia.


METHODS
Twenty-two preeclamptic patients, six preeclamptic patients with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and 30 women with uncomplicated pregnancies were included in this study. The expression of PTX3 and TNF-α in placental tissue was analyzed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western immunoblotting. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure the concentration of PTX3 and TNF-α in maternal sera. The localization and immunoreaction of PTX3 and TNF-α in placenta were determined via immunohistochemistry (IHC).


RESULTS
Expression of PTX3 and TNF-α in placental tissues and maternal sera was significantly increased in preeclamptic patients, as well as in those with IUGR. PTX3 was mainly expressed in villous stroma, decidual cells and terminal villi, and TNF-α was mostly localized in trophoblast, vascular endothelial cells, decidual cells and in the stroma of the stem villi. Moreover, PTX3 expression was correlated with TNF-α expression in maternal sera of preeclamptic women.


CONCLUSIONS
PTX3 and TNF-α are increased in preeclampsia and are likely involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, People's Republic of China.
Ping
P
Zhou
Xin
X
Luo
Hong-Bo
HB
Qi
Wen-Jun
WJ
Zong
Hua
H
Zhang
Dan-Dan
DD
Liu
Qing-Shu
QS
Li
D000328:Adult; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000099153:Pentraxins
D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099153:Pentraxins