title: Trophoblastic progranulin expression is upregulated in cases of fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The expression of the anti-inflammatory glycoprotein progranulin and the hypoxia-induced transcription factor 1α (HIF-1α) in the villous trophoblast was compared between placentae from patients with preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR), and normal controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Matched pairs analysis of third trimester placentae specimens (mean gestational age 36+2) was performed by semiquantitative measurements of the immunohistochemical staining intensities for progranulin and HIF-1α expression (PE n=13, FGR n=9 and controls n=11). Further, placental progranulin mRNA expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR on term placentae (n=3 for each group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared to controls, villous trophoblast revealed a significantly higher expression of progranulin in cases of PE (P<0.05) and FGR (P<0.01). Similar results were shown for HIF-1α expression (P<0.01 for PE and <0.05 for FGR). The increase of the progranulin protein was not accompanied by an increase of the progranulin mRNA in term placentae.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased expression of progranulin protein in villous trophoblast cells in cases of PE and FGR may result from disturbed placental development and, therefore, may be of pathogenetic importance. The increase was correlated to HIF-1α expression. Further evaluation of this potential mechanism of regulation is required.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Rostock, Suedring 81, Rostock 18059, Germany. johannes.stubert@uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stubert
authors.forename: Florian
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schattenberg
authors.forename: Dagmar-Ulrike
authors.initials: DU
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dieterich
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Briese
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D000077153:Progranulins; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C492314:GRN protein, human; C497442:HIF1A protein, human; D051795:Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D000077153:Progranulins