title: The higher heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) in missed abortion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF) has pleiotropic biological functions in the female reproductive tract. HB-EGF has a function in the menstruation cycle, implantation, decidualization, placenta development, and also inhibition of apoptosis. This study aims to investigate a possible role of HB-EGF in missed abortion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Decidual and placental tissue samples were obtained from women with unwanted pregnancy as the control group and from women with missed abortions as the patient group. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to compare HB-EGF expression of fibroblast and decidual cells in uterine decidual stroma and fibroblasts and mesenchymal cells in placental villous stroma; the TUNEL technique was used to detect apoptotic cells within the decidual and placental tissues of the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was demonstrated that HB-EGF expression in both uterine decidual stroma and placenta stroma was increased in the missed abortion group (142.70 ± 12.80; 116.10 ± 14.16, respectively), compared with the normal pregnancy group (101.60 ± 14.18; 81.60 ± 10.74, respectively). It was also shown that there was no difference in TUNEL (Terminal deoxynucleotide transferase dUTP Nick End Labelling) positive cells between the uterine decidual stroma (11.4 ± 3%; 13.6 ± 3%, respectively), placental villous stroma (13.7 ± 3%; 15.9 ± 3%, respectively), and cytotrophoblast-syncytiotrophoblast cells (7.3 ± 2; 9.8 ± 3, respectively) of the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This data supports the hypothesis that increased HB-EGF expression in a missed abortion may prevent the discharge of the dead fetus.
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, 45050 Manisa, Turkey. Electronic address: kemalozbilgin@yahoo.com.
authors: Kemal
authors: K
authors: Ozbilgin
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, 45050 Manisa, Turkey.
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Karaca
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ercis State Hospital, Van, 65400 Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Afsin
authors: A
authors: Turan
authors: Department of IVF Unit, Tepecik State Hospital, 35170 Izmir, Turkey.
authors: Can
authors: C
authors: Köse
authors: Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, 45050 Manisa, Turkey.
authors: Seda
authors: S
authors: Vatansever
authors: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, 45050 Manisa, Turkey.
authors: Tayfun
authors: T
authors: Ozcakir
mesh_terms: D000030:Abortion, Missed / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D066257:Heparin-binding EGF-like Growth Factor
keywords: HB-EGF; endometrium; immunohistochemistry; missed abortion; placenta