title: Placental fibroblast growth factor 21 is not altered in late-onset preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with alterations of placental function. The incidence of PE is higher in insulin resistant states. Women with PE have high circulating levels of the metabolic regulator fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). FGF21 is synthesized in the placenta. The aim of this study was to compare the expression of FGF21, its receptors, downstream targets and transcriptional regulators in placental tissue from pregnancies with and without late-onset PE. Circulating FGF21 in maternal and cord blood was also studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  mRNA expression was determined by semi-quantitative real-time PCR and normalized for cellular composition in 17 women with and 20 without PE. Protein expression was quantified by Western Blot. FGF21 levels were measured by ELISA in maternal and cord serum of ten mother-baby dyads per condition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Placental FGF21 mRNA and protein expression were similar in PE compared with control. Placental mRNA expression of the FGF receptors (1-4) and the co-receptor beta-Klotho was not different between the groups. There was no difference in the expression of the glucose transporters GLUT1, 3 or 4. PPAR-alpha but not PPAR-gamma expression was decreased in PE. Maternal FGF21 serum levels were not significantly different in PE. FGF21 was detected in cord blood of 6 infants (4 PE, 2 controls) but was undetectable in 14 infants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Late-onset PE is not associated with major changes to the expression of FGF21, its receptors or metabolic targets.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Butterfield Street, Herston, 4029, QLD, Australia. m.dekker@uq.edu.au.|The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. m.dekker@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Marloes
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dekker Nitert
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. k.scholz@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Katherin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Scholz-Romero
authors.affiliation: The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. mh.kubala@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Marta H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Kubala
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Butterfield Street, Herston, 4029, QLD, Australia. h.d.mcintyre@uq.edu.au.|Mater Health Services, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia. h.d.mcintyre@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: H David
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Butterfield Street, Herston, 4029, QLD, Australia. l.callaway@uq.edu.au.|The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. l.callaway@uq.edu.au.|Obstetric Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia. l.callaway@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Leonie K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Callaway
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Butterfield Street, Herston, 4029, QLD, Australia. h.barrett@uq.edu.au.|The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD, Australia. h.barrett@uq.edu.au.|Obstetric Medicine, Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, Herston, QLD, Australia. h.barrett@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Helen L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Barrett
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D047493:PPAR alpha / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D047495:PPAR gamma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D051246:Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative; D047493:PPAR alpha; D047495:PPAR gamma; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; C414620:fibroblast growth factor 21; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors