title: Placental tumor necrosis factor-α protein expression during normal human gestation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Placental tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is a cell signaling protein. During pregnancy, TNF-α induces synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) which allows cytotrophoblasts to reach the spiral arteries deeper within the uterine decidua. TNF-α also augments apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells surrounding these arteries. In this study, chorionic villi TNF-α protein expression throughout normal human gestation were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Placental chorionic villi tissues obtained from elective surgical terminations of pregnancy and from uncomplicated term births were assayed using EIA kits (Cayman Chemicals, Ann Arbor, MI, Item # 589201).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median, 25th percentile and 75th percentile values in the first (N = 99), second (N = 58) and third trimester (N = 42) were: 36.46, 27.25, 45.90 pg/100 mg tissue; 55.43, 40.09, 110.88 pg/100 mg tissue; and 16.63, 9.32, 31.92 pg/100 mg tissue, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variations in placental TNF-α protein expression noted at different trimesters may suggest gestational age specific roles for the cytokine. The increase in TNF-α protein expression observed in the second trimester may be involved in upregulating synthesis of MMP and in augmenting apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells of the spiral arteries. A failure in this second trimester increase in TNF-α protein could contribute to gestational compromise.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Jayasri
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Basu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Enyonam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agamasu
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Bolek
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bendek
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Carolyn M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Salafia
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Aruna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mishra
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Nerys
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benfield
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.affiliation: a Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , Bronx Lebanon Hospital Center , Bronx , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Magdy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mikhail
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism*; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: Chorionic villi; enzyme immunoassay; second trimester pregnancy; syncytiotrophoblast stress; uncomplicated pregnancy