title: Galectin 2 (gal-2) expression is downregulated on protein and mRNA level in placentas of preeclamptic (PE) patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Galectin 2 (gal-2) belongs to the proto type group and consists of two homologous carbohydrate recognition domains (CRDs) resulting in multiple sugar binding sites. The expression of gal-2 has been shown to be involved in processes of angiogenesis and inflammation but was not analyzed before in preeclamptic (PE) placentas. Therefore the aim of this study was an analysis of expression and localization of gal-2 in placentas from patients suffering from PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placental tissues were obtained from 14 women following a normal course of pregnancy and 13 women with PE. Expression of gal-2 was evaluated with immunohistochemistry and a semi quantitative score. Gal-2 mRNA expression was quantified in placental tissue using real time TaqMan PCR. Identification of gal-2 expressing cells in the decidua was achieved by double immunofluorescence microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Expression of gal-2 is downregulated in the syncytiotrophoblast of preeclamptic placentas. Downregulation of gal-2 could also be identified in the decidua of PE patients. These findings on protein level could be supported by the results of TaqMan PCR. Gal-2 is downregulated in PE placentas on mRNA level. Finally, gal-2 expressing cells could be identified as extravillous trophoblast cells in both normal pregnancy and PE.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gal-2 was identified as an inhibitor of arteriogenesis in a murine model supposedly via modulation of the monocyte/macrophage population. In PE, both the formation of spiral arteries as well as influx of macrophages are dramatically changed. Therefore we might speculate that disturbed transformation of spiral arteries in PE might correlate with the downregulated gal-2 expression by the trophoblast.
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Innenstadt, München, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hutter
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Innenstadt, München, Germany; Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Grosshadern, München, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Grosshadern, München, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: von Schönfeldt
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Innenstadt, München, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Messner
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Innenstadt, München, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Innenstadt, München, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hofmann
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Innenstadt, München, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Andergassen
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Innenstadt, München, Germany; Cnopf'sche Kinderklinik/Klinik Hallerwiese, Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Knabl
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik, Klinikum der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Innenstadt, München, Germany. Electronic address: udo.jeschke@med.uni-muenchen.de.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Jeschke
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005260:Female; D037501:Galectin 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D037501:Galectin 2; C511926:LGALS2 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger
keywords: Galectin-2; Immunohistochemistry; Preeclampsia; TaqMan PCR; Trophoblast