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Expression and Secretion of the Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 in Human Placenta and Its Decrease in Fetal Growth Restriction

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Abstract

Objective

The vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily and is expressed principally on endothelial cells. The present study was undertaken to compare the expression and secretion of VCAM-1 from normal pregnancies and those complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR).

Methods

Placentas from first-trimester (FT) (n = 17), normal term (n= 19), and FGR (n = 16) patients were collected immediately after elective cesarean delivery. VCAM-1 mRNA expression profiles by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, protein levels by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using explant culture in vitro, and its cellular localization by confocal microscopy were compared between FGR and normal placentas.

Results

Functionally active placental explants were used to detect immunoreactive VCAM-1 in conditioned media of all the samples from the three groups. The mean levels of VCAM-1 produced by FT villi were found to be 1.9-, 1.7-, and 1.5-fold higher (P < .02) than term villi at 24, 48, and 72 hours of culture, respectively. Conversely, the respective mean levels of VCAM-1 produced by FGR placental villi were 2.3-, 2.5-, and 2.0-fold lower than levels of the normal term placental villi (P<.05). The secretion profiles of VCAM-1 from FT, term, and FGR villi correlated well with the mRNA levels; the amount secreted in FT villi was twice that of term villi. Moreover, mRNA transcripts from FGR pregnancies showed significantly decreased expression, in conformity with explant results.

Conclusions

The presence of VCAM-1 in placental villi and down-regulation of its production at term indicate that VCAM-1 production is specific to developmental stage. The decreased VCAM-1 expression in FGR pregnancy could be attributed to the uteroplacental deficiency that is characteristics of this condition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Hospital, National University of Singapore, Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, Singapore, 119074

    G. Rajashekhar MSc, A. Loganath PhD, A. C. Roy PhD & Y. C. Wong FRCOG

Authors
  1. G. Rajashekhar MSc
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  2. A. Loganath PhD
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  3. A. C. Roy PhD
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  4. Y. C. Wong FRCOG
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Loganath PhD.

Additional information

This work was supported by a generous grant from the National Medical Research Council, Ministry of Health, Singapore (grant no. NMRC/0467/2000). G.R. is the recipient of a postgraduate research scholarship from the National University of Singapore.

We express our gratitude to Ms. Janet Wu, Research-coordinator, and the Labor Ward Staff, National University Hospital, Singapore, for their support in collecting placental samples and to Ms. Low Hwee Teng for her technical assistance.

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Rajashekhar, G., Loganath, A., Roy, A.C. et al. Expression and Secretion of the Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 in Human Placenta and Its Decrease in Fetal Growth Restriction. Reprod. Sci. 10, 352–360 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S1071-5576(03)00121-7

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