title: Immunohistochemical protein expression profiling of growth- and apoptotic-related factors in relation to umbilical cord length.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Umbilical cord (UC) alterations are related to fetal and neonatal deaths and late neurological complications. Abnormal UC length has been recognized as the most significant abnormality linked to unfavorable outcomes. Despite its importance, causal factors resulting in abnormally long or short UCs have yet to be established. The factors that govern UC length are largely unknown. Furthermore, there is a paucity of studies that assess molecular processes involved in the establishment of UC length. We hypothesize that UC length abnormalities in UC length are associated with altered protein expression patterns of known cell growth and/or apoptosis regulators. In this study we analyze diverse protein expression patterns in different UC cell types found in UCs of normal and abnormal length.
  
  
  METHODS
  An analytical observational study was carried out on fetal autopsies; diagnosed abnormal length UCs were compared to normal controls by gestational age. Immunohistochemical analysis of expression levels of growth and pro- and anti-apoptotic factors was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We performed immunohistochemistry antibody tests against FAS, BAX, Ki67, cMyc, FGF2, TGFBR3, VEGF, Bcl2, p57 and IGF2 and analyzed UC cell expression patterns. We found significant differences in specific long and/or short cord cell types in comparison to those in normal cords.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Factors that determine UC length are still largely unknown; however, this study demonstrates significant specific cell type differences in protein expression patterns of several genes related to cell proliferation. This preliminary study provides strong supporting data to continue the search for molecular factors that determine UC length.
authors: Department of Pathology, The Medical School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana-San Ignacio University Hospital, Bogota, Colombia. Electronic address: olaya.m@javeriana.edu.co.
authors: Mercedes
authors: M
authors: Olaya-C
authors: Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA. Electronic address: MFritsch@luriechildrens.org.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Fritsch
authors: Institute of Human Genetics, The Medical School, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana-San Ignacio University Hospital, Bogota, Colombia. Electronic address: jebernal@gmail.com.
authors: Jaime E
authors: JE
authors: Bernal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D050761:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death / Q000209:etiology*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009929:Organ Size; D011247:Pregnancy; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019014:fas Receptor
chemical_list: C494826:BAX protein, human; D050761:Cyclin-Dependent Kinase Inhibitor p57; C491901:FAS protein, human; C035170:IGF2 protein, human; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D011509:Proteoglycans; D016271:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-myc; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; C071736:betaglycan; D007335:Insulin-Like Growth Factor II
keywords: Cord accident; Immunohistochemistry; Stillbirth; Umbilical cord