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Expression of AP-2γ in placentas of patients with preeclampsia and of smokers

Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics volume 291, pages 1015–1021 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

There is evidence of a probable key role of the activator protein-2 γ (AP-2γ) in placental development. It is still an open question whether AP-2γ expression may be influenced by preeclampsia, which is a serious pregnancy complication, or by smoking, which has deleterious effects on trophoblastic development.

Material and Methods

Thus, the expression of AP-2γ was studied in trophoblastic epithelium and endothelium of placentas from patients with preeclampsia (n = 43) and smokers (n = 45) as well as placentas of healthy pregnant women (control group, n = 26) between gestational ages 23 and 43 weeks. To allow differential expression in primary, secondary and tertiary villi, AP-2γ expression (arbitrary units) was determined immunohistologically.

Results

In preeclamptic placentas trophoblastic as well as endothelial cells AP-2γ expression was significantly higher compared to that in control placentas. Endothelial AP-2γ expression in placentas from smokers was similar to that of healthy women while trophoblastic AP-2γ expression in smokers’ placenta was insignificantly higher compared to that of control placentas. In all three groups expression rates of AP-2γ did not differ between primary, secondary and tertiary villi.

Conclusion

A correlation between increased trophoblastic and endothelial AP-2γ expression in patients with preeclampsia and reduced trophoblastic invasion and migration in preeclampsia has to be discussed. Furthermore, increased AP-2γ expression may play a protective role in preeclampsia, protecting from raised blood pressure. The tendency of an enhanced trophoblastic AP-2γ expression in smokers may indicate a compensatory response to the disturbed balance between proliferation and differentiation of villi induced by smoking.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.

Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Pathology, University Clinic Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53127, Bonn, Germany

    Hannah A. Schneider & Annette M. Müller

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Ulrich Gembruch

  3. Institue of Medicinal Biometrics, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Clinic Bonn, Bonn, Germany

    Rolf Fimmers

  4. Institute of Pathology, Grevenbroich, Germany

    Jörg Schmitz

  5. Alexianer Hospital, 52064, Aachen, Germany

    Hannah A. Schneider

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  1. Hannah A. Schneider
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  2. Ulrich Gembruch
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  3. Rolf Fimmers
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  4. Jörg Schmitz
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  5. Annette M. Müller
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Correspondence to Annette M. Müller.

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Schneider, H.A., Gembruch, U., Fimmers, R. et al. Expression of AP-2γ in placentas of patients with preeclampsia and of smokers. Arch Gynecol Obstet 291, 1015–1021 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3473-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-014-3473-4

Keywords

  • Activator protein 2- γ
  • AP-2γ
  • Preeclampsia
  • Smoker
  • Placenta