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Association of Wnt2 and sFRP4 Expression in the Third Trimester Placenta in Women With Severe Preeclampsia

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Abstract

Background

The Wnt signaling pathway is a conserved pathway and plays a crucial role in regulating trophoblast functions. Abnormal expression of the Wnt pathway may result in the dysfunction of the trophoblast that can contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE). However, published data regarding the association between Wnt pathway and PE in human pregnancy is rare.

Objective

The aims of this study were to investigate the expression pattern of Wnt2 and secreted frizzled-related protein 4 (sFRP4) in the third trimester human placenta and to evaluate the relationship between changes in placental Wnt2 and sFRP4 expression and severe PE.

Methods

The expression of Wnt2 and sFRP4 in normal and severe PE placentas was examined using immunohistochemistry (IHC), real-time polymerase chain reaction, and Western blot.

Results

Compared to the controls, the relative expression of Wnt2 messenger RNA was remarkably downregulated in the PE placentas, while there was no significant difference in sFRP4 between the 2 groups. The IHC indicated that Wnt2 and sFRP4 were expressed predominantly in the villous syncytiotrophoblast and the extravillous trophoblast, whereas Wnt2 in the control group showed higher staining intensity than in the PE group, and sFRP4 in the PE group had a higher staining intensity than in the control group. Furthermore, the results of the Western blots were consistent with the IHC.

Conclusions

The Wnt signaling pathway was detected in human third trimester placentas, and the decreased placental expression of Wnt2 and increased placental expression of sFRP4 may be associated with the pathogenesis of severe PE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 7 Front Kangfu Street, 450052, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

    Zhan Zhang MD, PhD, Linlin Zhang MD, Liting Jia MD, Peng Wang MD & Yan Gao MD

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China

    Lin Zhang MD

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  1. Zhan Zhang MD, PhD
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  2. Lin Zhang MD
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  3. Linlin Zhang MD
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  4. Liting Jia MD
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  5. Peng Wang MD
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  6. Yan Gao MD
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Correspondence to Zhan Zhang MD, PhD.

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Zhang, Z., Zhang, L., Zhang, L. et al. Association of Wnt2 and sFRP4 Expression in the Third Trimester Placenta in Women With Severe Preeclampsia. Reprod. Sci. 20, 981–989 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719112472740

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719112472740

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