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ABSTRACT: Purpose: Recently, COMMD1 has been identified as a novel interactor and regulator of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 and nuclear factor kappa B transcriptional activity. The goal of this study was to determine the difference of COMMD1 expression in the placentas of women with normal and preeclamptic (PE) pregnancies. Materials and Methods: Immnoperoxidase and immunofluorescent staining for COMMD1 was performed on nine normal and nine severe PE placental tissues, and COMMD1 mRNA expression was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Results: The expression of mRNA of COMMD1 was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. The immunoreactivity was higher especially in the syncytiotrophoblast of PE placentas than in the control group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated increased placental COMMD1 expression in women with severe preeclampsia compared to that found in women with normal pregnancies, and this finding might contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
Yonsei medical journal 03/2013; 54(2):494-9. · 0.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE: Lately, DJ-1 has been identified as a novel mediator of hypoxia-induced cellular responses. The aim of this study was to determine the difference of DJ-1 expression in the placentas of women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. STUDY DESIGN: DJ-1 mRNA expression was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Also, immnoperoxidase and immunofluorescent staining for DJ-1 was performed on 11 normal and 12 preeclamptic placental tissues. RESULTS: The expression of mRNA of DJ-1 was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. The immunoreactivity was especially higher in the syncytiotrophoblast of preeclamptic placentas compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: Overexpression of the DJ-1 protein in the placentas of severe PE patients is thought to be a causative or compensatory mechanism in response to hypoxia, and this finding might contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology 01/2013; · 1.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of our study was to establish whether there is a correlation between the size of placental lakes and adverse pregnancy outcome.
Target ultrasonography for diagnosis of placental lake was performed in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy and followed up in the 3rd trimester. Placental lakes were defined as homogenous sonolucent avillous lesions greater than 2 cm × 2 cm in diameter. The 109 pregnant women enrolled in this study were divided into four groups according to the size and change in size of placental lakes. Clinical characteristics and pregnancy outcomes in each group were compared.
Some placental lakes decreased and disappeared, whereas others persisted. There were no significant differences in clinical characteristics among the four investigated groups. Fetal small-for-gestational-age status was significantly correlated with large placental lakes, compared to small.
Large placental lakes were correlated with the fetal status of small for gestational age. Therefore, if a large placental lake is identified in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy, appropriate surveillance should be considered for the remainder of the pregnancy.
European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology 05/2012; 162(2):139-43. · 1.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Objective: This study aimed to establish reference intervals for lymphocyte subsets including CD4(+)CD25(high)FoxP3(+) regulatory T-cells (Tregs) in umbilical cord blood. Methods: Umbilical cord blood was obtained after birth from 120 healthy full-term neonates, who were born between November 2010 and November 2011. Lymphocyte subsets including Tregs were analysed using flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter, Fullerton, CA, USA), and the reference intervals were defined using non-parametrical percentile methods according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute guideline (C28-A3). Results: The reference intervals for lymphocyte subsets were: helper T-cells (CD3(+)/CD4(+)), 15.40-70.06%; cytotoxic T-cells (CD3(+)/CD8(+)), 9.65-34.28%; B-cells (CD19(+)), 4.50-29.59%; and natural killer cells (CD3(-)/CD16(+)/CD56(+)), 1.42-28.03%. The reference interval for Tregs was 0.35-9.07%. Conclusions: This study provides the reference intervals for lymphocyte subsets including Tregs in umbilical cord blood from healthy full-term neonates. These results could be used as fundamental data for clinical laboratory tests as well as future researches.
The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 02/2012; 25(10):2058-61. · 1.36 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of our study was to investigate the change of count and the status of cellular senescence in fetal endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) obtained from the umbilical cord blood of women with fetal growth restriction (FGR).
Fetal EPCs were obtained from thirty five normal and thirty pregnant women with FGR. Each EPC was characterized and counted. EPC differentiation time and outgrowth endothelial cell (OEC) colony formation assay, senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity assay, and telomerase activity assay were performed.
Fetal EPC counts were significantly decreased in the FGR group compared with normal controls. In the FGR group, the EPC differentiation time was prolonged, OEC colonies were much less formed, the staining intensity of SA-β-gal was relatively increased and the telomerase activity of EPCs was significantly decreased, compared with normal pregnancy (p < 0.001 for all).
The fetal EPCs in FGR pregnancies were decreased, functionally impaired and senescently altered.
The journal of maternal-fetal & neonatal medicine: the official journal of the European Association of Perinatal Medicine, the Federation of Asia and Oceania Perinatal Societies, the International Society of Perinatal Obstetricians 02/2012; 25(9):1769-73. · 1.36 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To investigate the expression pattern of CXC chemokine ligand-12 (CXCL12) in the placentae of normal and pre-eclamptic women.
Twenty-five women with severe pre-eclampsia and 30 normotensive women, matched for gestational age, were enrolled in the study. Placental tissue from each woman was collected following delivery by caesarean section. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis and immunohistochemical staining were performed for mRNA expression, quantification and tissue localization of CXCL12 in each placenta.
CXCL12 expression was greater in pre-eclamptic placentae compared with normal placentae. CXCL12 was detected in most placental tissue cells by immunohistochemical staining. CXCL12 immunoreactivity was significantly greater in syncytiotrophoblasts of pre-eclamptic placentae compared with normal placentae. However, there was no significant difference in CXCL12 immunoreactivity in other tissues between the two groups.
CXCL12 expression is significantly greater in the placentae of pre-eclamptic women compared with normal women. This may represent part of a compensatory mechanism for pre-eclampsia.
European journal of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive biology 11/2011; 160(2):137-41. · 1.97 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of interventional management for various intractable complications following caesarean section.
Between August 2005 and September 2009, 18 consecutive women were referred to interventional radiology for treatment of complications developing after caesarean section. Complications included vaginal bleeding (n = 14), haemoperitoneum with abdominal wall haematoma (n = 2), caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) (n = 1) and post-caesarean fluid collection (n = 1).
17 women underwent transcatheter arterial embolisation (TAE) with a variety of embolic materials, and two women underwent percutaneous drainage (PCD) for fluid collection and haemoperitoneum. 5 of the 14 women with vaginal bleeding had extravasation of contrast media on angiography; the other 9 had no visible bleeding foci. The two women with haemoperitoneum with abdominal wall haematoma had injury to the inferior epigastric artery from angiography. TAE and PCD were successfully performed in both women. The CSP was successfully managed and the serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin (β-hCG) level finally normalised. Hysterectomy or dilatation and curretage was required in women with placenta accrete and undetectable bleeding foci.
Interventional management including TAE and PCD is effective and safe in controlling complications following caesarean section. Use of these procedures can help avoid high-risk surgery, but subsequent procedures including hysterectomy may be required in cases of placental abnormalities and undetectable bleeding foci.
The British journal of radiology 10/2010; 84(999):204-9. · 2.11 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of our study was to determine the difference of cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) expression in the placentas of women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.
Retrospective study using banked placental tissue samples.
University hospital.
Twenty women with severe preeclampsia (preeclampsia group) and 20 gestational age-matched normotensive women (normal group).
Placental tissue from each woman collected at the time of cesarean section.
Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot analysis, and immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining for mRNA expression, quantification and tissue localization of PrP(C) in each placenta.
Increased expression of PrP(C) in preeclamptic placenta.
Compared with the normal group, PrP(C) and its mRNA were highly expressed in preeclampsia (each, p < 0.001). In immunohistochemical and immunofluorescent staining, PrP(C) was present at the syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblast, endothelial cell, stroma, and decidua of all placentas. When the PrP(C) immunoreactivity in each tissue was compared, PrP(C) in endothelial cell, stroma, and deciduas was weakly expressed, and there was no difference of its expression between two groups. But, the intensity of PrP(C) expression in syncytiotrophoblast and cytotrophoblast was much higher in preeclampsia than normal.
The increased expression of PrP(C) in preeclamptic placenta may be a compensatory phenomenon for preeclampsia related conditions. Furthermore, this change in preeclamptic placenta may give an explanation for placental response to overcome the preeclamptic conditions.
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica 09/2010; 89(9):1155-61. · 1.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the significance of Doppler ultrasound as a predictor for adverse pregnancy outcomes in Korean women with anemia during the third trimester of pregnancy.
A retrospective study comparing women with (n=377) and without (n=3183) anemia was performed. Maternal anemia was defined as hemoglobin concentration <10 g/dL. Umbilical artery Doppler (UmA) and uterine artery Doppler (UtA) velocimetry was performed before delivery.
There were higher rates of small for gestational age, cesareans for fetal distress, and preterm birth among the anemic compared to non-anemic women. When maternal anemia was combined with abnormal Doppler, the odds ratio (OR) of adverse pregnancy outcome was further increased. Both abnormal UtA and UmA to predict adverse pregnancy outcome showed sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of 41.2%, 97.4%, 85.9%, and 51.2%, respectively (OR 2.0; 95% confidence interval 1.2-2.3).
Doppler ultrasound examination could be used as a predictor for adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with anemia during the third trimester.
Journal of Perinatal Medicine 05/2010; 38(5):467-71. · 1.70 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The impairment of trophoblast invasion associated with preeclampsia may involve matrix metalloproteinase (MMP). Adenosine A3 receptors expression in trophoblast is upregulated in preeclampsia. This study was designed to determine if A3 receptors modulate MMP secretion in villous explants from preeclamptic pregnancies. Villous explants from normal and preeclamptic pregnancies were cultured at 20% and 3% oxygen. There were significantly increased A3 receptor and reduced MMP-2/-9 expression at low oxygen level in normal and preeclamptic explants. Interestingly, in preeclamptic explants, after high oxygen culture, the expression of MMP-2/-9 were recovered to almost same level of those in normal explants. Treatment of preeclamptic explants with A3 receptor agonist in low oxygen level resulted in an enhanced expression of MMP-2/-9 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. In summary, this study indicates that trophoblastic adenosine A3 receptors are 1) modulated by oxygen tension, and 2) regulate MMP-2/-9 expression.
Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) 10/2008; 15(9):939-49. · 2.31 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to investigate the number and functional ability of fetal endothelial progenitor cells in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia without intrauterine growth restriction.
Fetal endothelial progenitor cells were isolated, and counted from 17 women with preeclampsia without intrauterine growth restricion and 30 normal women. Colony-forming assay and differentiation time assay were performed to detect functional activity of the cells. To assess cellular senescence, senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining was performed for endothelial progenitor cells.
Compared with normal pregnancy, the number of endothelial progenitor cells was significantly lower, differentiation time from endothelial progenitor cell into outgrowing cell was longer, and the number of colonies after differentiation was smaller in preeclampsia (P< .001), respectively. The intensity of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase staining was higher in preeclamptic pregnancy (P < .001).
The number and functional ability of fetal endothelial progenitor cells from preeclampsia without intrauterine growth restriction are significantly decreased and they are more senescent compared with those of normal pregnancy.
American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 09/2008; 199(3):259.e1-7. · 3.28 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to assess whether nestin is expressed during differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) obtained from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB), and nestin expression is changed in hypoxia-conditioned culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).
Among deliveries at our institute, 20 normal pregnant women who delivered by cesarean section at 37-40 weeks' gestation were selected. HUCB mononuclear cells (MNCs) from HUCB were isolated and cultivated. After characterization of CXCR4/KDR/CD34 positive cells (EPCs) by flow cytometry and fluorescent chemical staining, EPC culture was continued through day 10 for differentiation to outgrowth endothelial cell (OEC). For identification of EPC and OEC, RT-PCR was performed for each specific cell markers, such as AC133, CD45, CXCR4, CDH5, vWF, eNOs, CD34, and Flt 1. HUVECs were isolated from human umbilical cord veins by collagenase treatment. Culture of HUVEC in hypoxic and normoxic conditions was performed for 24 h. Nestin expression in EPCs, OECs and HUVECs was detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting.
Western blot analysis and RT-PCR revealed that nestin was not expressed in EPC, but well expressed in OECs and HUVECs. During 24 h of HUVEC culture, time course gene expression of VEGF was significantly increased, but nestin was not changed.
Our results showed that nestin could be used as a new differentiation marker of EPCs, and hypoxic stimuli did not directly affect nestin gene expression.
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica 02/2008; 87(6):643-51. · 1.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Adenosine deaminase (ADA), an enzyme essential for the differentiation of lymphoid cells, has been used for monitoring diseases with altered immunity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in serum ADA activity throughout normal pregnancy. We measured the catalytic values of serum ADA from 202 normal pregnant women using a commercial kit. Subjects were divided into four groups according to the gestational age in weeks (Gwks) (Group I: 5-9 Gwks [n=58]; Group II: 15-20 Gwks [n= 63]; Group III: 24-30 Gwks [n=34]; Group IV: 30-39 Gwks [n=47]). The serum ADA levels for the Groups I, II, III, and IV were as follows: 20.1 +/- 6.9 IU/L, 20.0 +/- 7.6 IU/L, 37.9 +/- 19.9 IU/L, and 24.5 +/- 8.6 IU/L, respectively. The serum ADA activity of group III was significantly higher than the other groups (p<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the Gwks and the serum ADA activity. Furthermore, other parameters, such as maternal age (p=0.29), gestational age at delivery (p=0.07), delivery mode (p=0.39), and birth weight (p=0.59) had no correlation with ADA activity. Reference values of serum ADA in normal pregnancy may provide important database for making clinical decisions in pregnancies complicated by conditions where cellular immunity has been altered.
Journal of Korean Medical Science 08/2007; 22(4):718-21. · 0.99 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Nestin is a type VI intermediate filament protein originally described in neural stem cells. Recent reports have documented nestin expression in endothelium of newly formed blood vessels and suggested its role as a marker of capacity for neovascularization and angiogenesis in endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the differential expression of nestin in normal and pre-eclamptic human placentas.
Placental tissues from 12 women with severe pre-eclampsia and 15 gestational age-matched normotensive women were collected at the time of their cesarean section. Western blot analysis for each placental tissue was performed for nestin quantification. Immunohistochemical staining was employed to localize nestin-positive cells and to investigate differential staining intensity in each placental cell.
Nestin expression was detected in all of the normal and pre-eclamptic placental tissues by Western blotting. Compared with the normal placentas, tissues from severe pre-eclamptic placentas showed higher expression of nestin (p<0.001). Nestin immunoreactivity was localized only to endothelial cells of chorionic villi. However, mesenchymal connective tissue cells, cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, and decidual cells did not reveal any specific signal for nestin.
We suggest that the capacity for neovascularization and angiogenesis in endothelial cell is increased in pre-eclamptic placenta compared to that from normal pregnancy. Such changes may be a compensatory mechanism for the reduced maternofetal exchanges and long-lasting fetal hypoxia in pre-eclamptic pregnancy. Furthermore, these changes in endothelial cells of chorionic villi in pre-eclamptic pregnancy may give an explanation for fetal response to pre-eclamptic conditions.
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica 01/2007; 86(8):909-14. · 1.77 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: To examine whether the distribution of genotypic and allelic frequencies of ICAM-1 K469 of Korean women with preeclampsia are different from that of a control group.
In this case-control study the ICAM-1 K469E polymorphism was genotyped in 42 women with preeclampsia and 138 normotensive controls who had delivered at least two normal, term infants. A direct sequencing reaction method was used to detect a single nucleotide polymorphism.
The distribution of genotype frequencies and the frequency of the K469 allele of the preeclampsia group were not significantly different from those of the controls. A similar trend was observed between the severe preeclampsia patients and the controls.
The frequencies of the KK genotype and the K allele were higher in the preeclampsia group than those in the control group. However, there was no statistically significant difference.
The Journal of reproductive medicine 57(3-4):148-52. · 0.87 Impact Factor
