title: Lipoprotein lipase and lipid profiles in plasma and placenta from normal pregnancies compared with patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyse lipoprotein lipase (LPL) expression and lipid levels in placenta and plasma of patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and normal pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective study included 30 patients with ICP and 30 gestational-age-matched pregnancies without any complications. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to investigate plasma LPL levels from 28 weeks of gestation, at 4-weekly intervals, to 38 weeks of gestation, and data were assessed longitudinally. Immunohistochemistry, Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction were used to detect placental LPL expression and activity. Placental triglyceride and total cholesterol levels were also analysed. The clinical data related to ICP and lipid profiles were collected retrospectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma LPL concentration increased with gestational age in both groups, but the increase was limited in the ICP group. Immunohistochemistry revealed LPL staining mainly in syncytiotrophoblasts, and 3,3'-diamino-benzidine tetrahydrochloride wt% was lower in ICP placenta compared with normal placenta (p<0.01). LPL protein and mRNA expression in ICP placenta were significantly lower than in normal placenta (p<0.01). LPL activity was not significantly different in both groups. Correlation analysis indicated that the plasma LPL level was negatively associated with the corresponding concentration of total bile acid (r=-0.57) in the ICP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reduced LPL expression in placenta, limited increase in LPL level in maternal plasma, and abnormal lipid profiles were found in patients with ICP. LPL was possibly related to ICP by participating abnormal lipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Z M
authors.initials: ZM
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Y F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: Y K
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China. Electronic address: yangsufenedu@sina.com.
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Scientific and Medical Research Institute, Ningbo, China.
authors.forename: X L
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008055:Lipids; D008071:Lipoprotein Lipase
keywords: Dyslipidaemia; Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy; Lipid metabolism; Lipoprotein lipase; Triglycerides