title: Immunohistochemical expression of SFRP1 and SFRP3 proteins in normal and malignant reproductive tissues of rats and humans.
abstract: Secreted frizzled-related proteins 1 and 3 (SFRP1 and SFRP3) act as Wnt signaling pathway antagonists and play an important role in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. The aim of the present study was to analyze immunohistochemically the distribution of 2 SFRP family proteins, SFRP1 and SFRP3, in an experimental rat model, in normal and intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) human placentas, and in a subset of the corresponding human trophoblastic tumors (pure choriocarcinomas and mixed germ cell tumors with choriocarcinoma component). In rats, expression of both SFRP1 and SFRP3 was pronounced in the perimetrium and myometrium, whereas decidual cells showed only occasional positive cytoplasmic staining. The most prominent expression of both proteins was found in blood vessel endothelial cells. Stereological variable of volume density (Vv, mm) showed statistically higher expression of SFRP1 and SFRP3 in human IUGR placentas than in normal pregnancy placentas (P<0.0001). Compared with adjacent normal/benign tissues, reduced expression of SFRP1 and SFRP3 was observed in human trophoblastic tumors (58.5% and 31.25%, respectively), although none of the examined tumors exhibited complete loss of either protein. Our study indicates that increased expression of both SFRP1 and SFRP3 may contribute to the pathogenesis of IUGR placental dysfunction, whereas the loss of these proteins may be involved in the development of human trophoblastic tumors.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments of †Biology §Pathology, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb ‡Department of Pathology, University Hospital Merkur, Zagreb, Croatia ∥Department of Pathology, Clinical Center of the University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Jasenka Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Partl
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fabijanovic
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skrtic
authors.forename: Semir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vranic
authors.forename: Tamara N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Martic
authors.forename: Ljiljana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Serman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002822:Choriocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009215:Myometrium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000099274:Frizzled-Related Proteins; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins
chemical_list: D006023:Glycoproteins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D000099274:Frizzled-Related Proteins; C117636:SFRP1 protein, human; D000094742:Secreted Frizzled-Related Proteins; C500646:Sfrp1 protein, rat