Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor types 1, 2 and 3 in placenta from pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders

Abstract

Abstract. The aim of the present study was to determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family receptors (VEGFR) in placentas from pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders of different clinical severity. Placental tissue from women with gestational hypertension, pre-eclampsia, pre-eclampsia with haemolysis, elevated liver enzymes and low platelets (HELLP syndrome) and normotensive women, as a control group, was examined. Immunohistochemical techniques, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and western blot were used to evaluate receptor expression. In cases with gestational hypertension, as well as in control cases, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 immunoreactivity was detected in all placental components, whereas in placentas from the pre-eclampsia and pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome groups, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-3 immunoreactivity was detected only in some portions of trophoblast and/or some vessels and/or clusters of stromal cells. In the control group, VEGFR-2 immunoreactivity was observed only in the vessels, whereas the hypertensive groups showed VEGF-2 immunoreactivity also in trophoblast and stromal cells. The mRNA levels of the three receptors in the group with gestational hypertension were higher with respect to those in the control group. Placentas from pregnancies with pre-eclampsia showed lowest mRNA expression levels, whereas placentas from women with pre-eclampsia plus HELLP syndrome showed higher mRNA expression levels with respect to the three other groups. Receptor protein levels were lower in pathological cases compared with levles in the control group. These findings demonstrate a dysregulation of placental expression of VEGF family receptors related to the degree of clinical severity of the hypertensive disorder.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Distribution and Maturity of Dendritic Cells in Diseases of Insufficient Placentation

“…In tumorigenesis, DC contribute to neovascularization via secretion of angiogenic factors 30,31 . Increased sVEGFR‐1&‐2 secretion has been shown for placental tissues from pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders 32 . Decidual DC display a distinct state of activation and our data support evidence that alternatively activated DC play a role within angiogenetic networks that are altered in insufficient placentation 33 .…”

Evaluation Gene Expression of Kinase Insert Domain (KDR) as Prediction of Preeclampsia with Novel Biomarkers

“…The present study showed that, KDR expression was statistically significantly higher in control group as compared to either of the two PE groups (p<0.0005) and there is no statistically significantly difference between sPE and mPE (Table 2). Our studywas consistent with numerous studies which indicated that the KDR expression is low in pregnancies comlicated by PE than control [16][17][18][19]24].Other studies, have detailed additional levels of maternal plasma from sKDR during PE or early pregnancy while reducing intrauterine growth [20][21][22].…”

Attenuation of VEGFR-2 Expression by sFlt-1 and Low Oxygen in Human Placenta

“…Helske et al found that VEGFR2 was expressed almost exclusively in the endothelial cells of fetal placental vasculature and there was no difference in staining intensity between normal and preeclamptic samples [20] . However, Marini et al found lower protein levels of VEGFR-2 in placental vasculature in both preeclampsia and HELLP compared with controls [21] . Other reports describe a clear trophoblast localization of VEGFR-2, including cytotrophoblasts, the proximal column, endovascular cytotrophoblasts [10] and in all populations of extravillous trophoblasts in placental beds during normal pregnancy [22] .…”