title: The defect of both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis is involved in preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pre-eclampsia (PE) is characterized by failed remodeling of maternal vessels perfusing the placenta. Blood vessels and lymphatic system are involved in vessel remodeling and flow homeostasis in the uterus during pregnancy. This study aims to investigate the involvement of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placental and decidual tissues were obtained from pregnancies with PE (n = 90), including PE cases with decidual vasculopathy (DV) (n = 52) and without DV (n = 38), and healthy pregnancies (control, n = 20). The clinical characteristics of these groups were analyzed. The expression levels of VEGF1, CD34, PROX-1, VEGFR3, and CD31 in the placenta and decidua were detected through immunohistochemistry, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lymphangiogenic markers PROX-1 and VEGFR3 were negatively expressed in the placenta but positively expressed in the decidua. The expression levels of the angiogenic markers VEGF1 and CD34 and the panendothelial marker CD31 were significantly lower in the placenta and decidua of the PE group than in those of the control group. The expression levels of VEGF1, CD34, and CD31 were significantly lower in the placenta and decidua with DV than in those without DV. Furthermore, the expression trends of PROX-1 and VEGFR3 was similar to those of VEGF1, CD34, and CD31 among the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lymphangiogenesis occurred in the decidua but not in the placenta. Impaired angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis were associated with PE, particularly in the presence of DV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511400, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: lht001018aaa@163.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jinan University, Huangpu Avenue West 601, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510630, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: 6649212@qq.com.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511400, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: superchina2000sox@mail.com.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511400, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: 1317540757@qq.com.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511400, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: lhy2008@126.com.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511400, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: hnliuguocheng@126.com.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003656:Decidua / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D042583:Lymphangiogenesis; D008205:Lymphangitis / Q000209:etiology; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D066253:Vascular Remodeling; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000209:etiology; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D015415:Biomarkers; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D019408:Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000098551:Prospero-Related Homeobox 1 Protein; C581309:FLT4 protein, human; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3
keywords: Angiogenesis; Lymphangiogenesis; PROX-1; Preeclampsia; VEGF1; VEGFR3