title: Decreased levels of folate receptor-β and reduced numbers of fetal macrophages (Hofbauer cells) in placentas from pregnancies with severe pre-eclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Pre-eclampsia (PE), a pregnancy complication of unknown etiology, is a major cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity. Previous studies have described placental genes that are up-regulated in expression in PE, but few studies have addressed placental gene suppression in this syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Gene profiling and quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRTPCR) analyses were used to identify genes down-regulated in placentas from women with severe preterm PE compared with gestational age-matched normotensive controls with spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate levels and patterns of cell type-specific protein expression in PE and sPTB group placentas.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Levels of macrophage marker [folate receptor (FR)-β, CD163, and CD68] mRNA and FR-β protein were significantly down-regulated in PE group placentas compared with the sPTB group. Numbers of Hofbauer cells (HBCs, fetal macrophages) and FR-β protein in these cells were reduced in PE group placentas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severe PE is associated with decreased placental expression of FR-β and a reduction in the number of HBCs. Reduced placental macrophage function is likely to play a key role in the pathophysiology of PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Zhonghua
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Irina A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Buhimschi
authors.forename: Catalin S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Buhimschi
authors.forename: Serkalem
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.forename: Errol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Norwitz
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Niven-Fairchild
authors.forename: Se-Te J
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000235:genetics; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic / Q000235:genetics; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D058976:Folate Receptor 2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000235:genetics; D055815:Young Adult; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015214:Antigens, Differentiation, Myelomonocytic; D058976:Folate Receptor 2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D000098902:CD163 Antigen; C067980:CD68 antigen, human; D000097382:CD68 Molecule
keywords: Hofbauer cells; fetal macrophages; folate receptor; placenta