title: Decreased expression of the vitamin D receptor in women with recurrent pregnancy loss.
abstract: The multiple functions of vitamin D3 have stimulated interest in the role that this vitamin may play during pregnancy. The present study investigated the expression of the vitamin D receptor (VDR) in women during the first trimester of pregnancy in order to determine whether VDR is associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Forty women at 7-10 weeks gestation with RPL and 40 women of similar gestational age with a healthy pregnancy were recruited. VDR mRNA and protein in chorionic villi and decidua were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), western blot, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The serum levels of VDR were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Women with RPL had a significantly weaker expression of VDR mRNA in villi and decidual tissues compared with the control women (both p < 0.0001). Western blot analysis showed an approximately 46% decrease in VDR expression in villi and a 52% decrease in decidua in the RPL vs. the controls. Serum VDR levels were also significantly lower in the RPL group than in the control group (p = 0.003). Compared with the controls, immunohistochemical and CLSM analysis revealed significantly lower VDR expression in villous cytotrophoblasts and stromal cells, as well as in decidual glandular epithelial and stromal cells (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, these observations show that women with RPL have lower levels of VDR expression in chorionic villi, decidua and serum compared with normal pregnant women, suggesting that decreased VDR expression in the first trimester pregnancy may be associated with RPL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obestetrics and Gynecology in First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoting
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Nursing Department in Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an, 710021, China.
authors.forename: Liqin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Center of Reproduction Medicine in Fourth Hospital of Xi'an City, Xi'an, 710004, China.
authors.forename: Chunfang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Department of Obestetrics and Gynecology in First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China; Center of Reproduction Medicine in Fourth Hospital of Xi'an City, Xi'an, 710004, China.
authors.forename: Xinwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Department in First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Lingyun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hui
authors.affiliation: Department of Obestetrics and Gynecology in First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China.
authors.forename: Qiu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sheng
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences Research Lab, Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, University Hospital, Coventry, CV2 2DX, UK.
authors.forename: Mingzhan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: Department of Obestetrics and Gynecology in First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710061, China. Electronic address: yuxuewen2007@163.com.
authors.forename: Xuewen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism*; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000378:metabolism*; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D016216:Ultrasonography, Prenatal
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; C579457:VDR protein, human
keywords: Chorionic villus; Decidua; Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL); Vitamin D receptor (VDR)