Expression of galectin‑3 and apoptosis in placental villi from patients with missed abortion during early pregnancy

Abstract

The success of a pregnancy relies on moderate trophoblast apoptosis. If the ‘inhibition-induction’ balance of apoptosis is broken, a pathological pregnancy may occur. Galectin-3 has an important role in numerous biological processes, including tumor cell apoptosis. However, the association between galectin-3 and missed abortion (MA) has remained elusive. In the present study, the mRNA and protein expression levels of galectin-3 in placental villi, and the apoptotic index of placental cells from patients with MA were assessed and compared with those in a normal spontaneous abortion group. The present study investigated the function of galectin-3 in the process of MA and the possible association between placental apoptosis and galectin-3 expression in MA patients. Furthermore, the role of galetin-3 in patients with MA at different times (<4 and >4 weeks) was explored. The present study provided a potential mechanism of MA from a perspective of apoptosis and also provided potential therapeutic approaches to prevent MA.

The chimera‐type galectin‐3 is a positive modulator of trophoblast functions with dysregulated expression in gestational diabetes mellitus

“…In support of this notion, it has been shown that maternal gal‐3 circulating levels are decreased after the onset of missed abortion 29 . In addition, dysregulation of gal‐3 in placental villi has also been described for patients with missed abortion and may explain the observed dysregulation of peripheral gal‐3 levels 30 …”

“…29 In addition, dysregulation of gal-3 in placental villi has also been described for patients with missed abortion and may explain the observed dysregulation of peripheral gal-3 levels. 30 An additional aim of this study was to determine the kinetics of the circulating maternal gal-3 throughout gestation, evaluating both uneventful pregnancies and development of GDM. We report here that serum gal-3 levels were reduced in patients that developed GDM.…”

Insight into the Key Points of Preeclampsia Pathophysiology: Uterine Artery Remodeling and the Role of MicroRNAs

“…It is well established that galectin-3 stimulates angiogenesis through the VEGF receptor dependent pathway and may also inhibit apoptosis in different types of cells. These galectin-3 functions may be pivotal in the pathophysiology of PE [ 51 , 52 ].…”

Can neutrophil‐to‐lymphocyte and monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratios be useful markers for predicting missed abortion in the first trimester of pregnancy?

“…Missed abortion (MA) is a specific type of spontaneous abortion, and refers to the embryo or fetus dying in the uterine cavity but failing to spontaneously excrete in time prior to 20 weeks of gestation 1 The incidence of MA accounted for about 15% of all clinically recognized pregnancies, 2 which showed a rising trend in recent years. 3 In the process of MA, placental tissue closely adheres to the uterine wall, causing difficulty in curettage, 4 which makes women facing the high risk of severe bleeding, endometrial injury, infection and other complications. Due to the lack of obvious and specific symptoms, women experiencing a MA may have no self-awareness.…”