Maternal Smoking and Placental Expression of a Panel of Genes Related to Angiogenesis and Oxidative Stress in Early Pregnancy

Abstract

Objective: Maternal cigarette smoking is paradoxically associated with a decreased risk of developing preeclampsia. Since preeclampsia is thought to be associated with altered mechanisms of angiogenesis and oxidative stress, we aim to investigate the influence of maternal smoking on the early placental expression of a panel of genes related to angiogenesis and oxidative stress. Material and Methods: We collected villous tissue samples at 6-7 and 10-11 weeks of gestation from 31 women requesting surgical termination. Placental expression of the following genes were quantified by real-time PCR: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1), soluble endoglin (sEng), placental growth factor (PlGF), heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX-1) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Maternal smoking status was assessed by levels of serum cotinine. Results: Placental expression of VEGFA was significantly higher in smoking women at 10-11 weeks of gestation compared with nonsmoking women at the same gestational age. There was no significant difference at 6-7 weeks of gestation. There was no variation in the expression of the other genes explored related to smoking status. Conclusions: Here we report that VEGFA placental expression was higher in smoking women at 10-11 weeks of gestation. Increased VEGFA expression in the early stages of pregnancy in smoking women might contribute to the decreased risk of developing preeclampsia.

Effects of Maternal Smoking on the Placental Expression of Genes Related to Angiogenesis and Apoptosis during the First Trimester

“…We previously reported that we could not observe any significant effects of maternal smoking in the expression levels of genes related to angiogenesis in the villous trophoblasts obtained from tissue samples obtained at six to seven weeks of gestation [28]. Since the number of samples was small in that study, in the present study, we increased the number of samples and reexamined the effects of maternal smoking on the placenta.…”

Maternal factors and the risk of birth defects after IVF and ICSI: a whole of population cohort study

“…The increased birth defect risk associated with smoking after IVF compared with ICSI may also be informative with regards to the maternal response to an ICSI conceptus, as the risk of certain inflammatory conditions of first pregnancy, such as pre‐eclampsia, is reduced by smoking …”

A synergistic negative effect of gestational smoke-exposure and small litter size on rat placental efficiency, vascularisation and angiogenic factors mRNA expression

“…Akihiko Sekizawa et al reported increased placental VEGF mRNA in first trimester placentas of smokers [17], however, when number of samples increased, no difference was found [15]. Previously, we found decreased Tie2/Ang1 in smoke exposed rat placentas of GD17 [19].…”

“…Except increased placental VEGF mRNA [17] and protein [18] were reported, alterations of VEGF system and angiopoietin system gene expression levels in smoking pregnant women placenta were seldom reported. Akihiko Sekizawa et al reported increased placental VEGF mRNA in first trimester placentas of smokers [17], however, when number of samples increased, no difference was found [15].…”

“…However, the results are inconsistent. Some study showed no changed VEGF and VEGF receptor 1 mRNA in human placenta of smoking mothers of first trimester [15,16], while increased placental VEGF mRNA [17] and protein [18] of smokers of first trimester, and decreased soluble VEGF receptor 1 [14] were also reported.…”