Search

Objective: Since Wnt signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the placental development, we explored the expression of its negative regulators, SFRP1 and SFRP3 proteins in placentas from pathological pregnancies and compared their levels with those in healthy placentas.Methods: Placentas (n = 79) were stained for SFRP1, and SFRP3 proteins by immunohistochemistry and their expression levels were quantified by stereological variable of volume density (Vv, mm°).Results: Significantly higher expressions of SFRP1 and SFRP3 were found in all investigated groups of term and preterm pathologic placentas as well as in preterm control placentas in comparison with normal-term placentas.Conclusions: Our findings indicate the active involvement of negative Wnt regulators SFRP1/SFRP3 in placental development and important role in pathology of pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure immunohistochemically the expression of ELF5 protein in term human and rat placentas and in human placentas associated with gestational diabetes (GD) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Methods: The results were quantitated stereologically using the stereological variable of volume density. A semiquantitative analysis was performed independently by a certified pathologist. Results: Total expression of ELF5 protein was higher in pathological pregnancies than in corresponding control term placentas, with both methods of quantifications showing similar results. In addition, ELF5 expression was also higher in connective tissue and blood vessels in chorionic villi in IUGR placentas (but not in GD placentas) compared to healthy controls. ELF5 is higher in placenta as a whole and in most of its components in both pathologies. The two exceptions are chorionic plates in IUGR and decidua in GD, where its expression is lower than in healthy controls. Conclusions: We have shown that IUGR and GD are associated with significantly increased levels of ELF5 protein in placentas, which suggests that ELF5 may play an important role in normal placentation. However, these are term placentas and to study ELF5 in premature births would give better insight into human placentation in health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The purpose of this study was to measure immunohistochemically the expression of ELF5 protein in term human and rat placentas and in human placentas associated with gestational diabetes (GD) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).Methods: The results were quantitated stereologically using the stereological variable of volume density. A semiquantitative analysis was performed independently by a certified pathologist.Results: Total expression of ELF5 protein was higher in pathological pregnancies than in corresponding control term placentas, with both methods of quantifications showing similar results. In addition, ELF5 expression was also higher in connective tissue and blood vessels in chorionic villi in IUGR placentas (but not in GD placentas) compared to healthy controls. ELF5 is higher in placenta as a whole and in most of its components in both pathologies. The two exceptions are chorionic plates in IUGR and decidua in GD, where its expression is lower than in healthy controls.Conclusions: We have shown that IUGR and GD are associated with significantly increased levels of ELF5 protein in placentas, which suggests that ELF5 may play an important role in normal placentation. However, these are term placentas and to study ELF5 in premature births would give better insight into human placentation in health and disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]