Altered gene expression patterns in intrauterine growth restriction: potential role of hypoxia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

Placental insufficiency is a primary cause of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In our study, microarray technology was used to identify genes, which may impair placentation resulting in IUGR.

STUDY DESIGN:

The RNA was isolated from both IUGR term placentas and normal term placentas. Microarray experiments were used to identify differentially expressed genes between the 2 cohorts. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used in follow-up experiments.

RESULTS:

Microarray experiments identified increased expression of certain genes including leptin, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, human chorionic gonadotropin, follistatin-like 3, and hypoxia-inducible factor 2alpha in the IUGR. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction confirmed these results.

CONCLUSION:

The upregulation of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and hypoxia-inducible factor 2alpha at this period in pregnancy indicate that placental angiogenesis is altered in IUGR and that hypoxia is a major contributor to maldevelopment of the placental vasculature.

• Authors: Cathal McCarthy, Finbarr E Cotter, Suzanne McElwaine, Anne Twomey, Eoghan E Mooney, Fergus Ryan, Joseph Vaughan
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 196 Issue 1 Pg. 70.e1-6 (Jan 2007) ISSN: 1097-6868 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 17240240 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• Cell Hypoxia
• Female
• Fetal Growth Retardation (etiology, genetics)
• Gene Expression Regulation
• Humans
• Pregnancy