Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2003 Mar;46(3):606-611.

The Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Platelet-Derived Growth Factor and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule in Severe Preeclamptic Placenta

• Lee GS
• Lee JK
• Han WS
• Lee Y
• Kim SJ
• Rha JG
• Kim SP
• Namkoong S

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) in placenta from pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia and normal pregnancies.
METHODS
Placental tissues were obtained from 10 normotensive pregnancies (control group) and 20 severe preeclamptic pregnancies (preeclamptic group). Immunohistochemical staining of placental tissue was used to determine tissue expression of VEGF, PDGF and ICAM-1. The intensity of staining was evaluated by scoring as 0, 1, 2 and 3.
RESULTS
Immunolocalization of VEGF and PDGF was significantly observed in the syncytotrophoblast with less intense staining in intravillous stromal cells and intravillous endothelial cells of fetal vessels in preeclamptic group. There were no differences in immunolocalization of staining in control group. Intensity of VEGF and PDGF immunostaining in syncytotrophoblast was significantly increased in preeclamptic group. However, immunolocalization and the intensity of ICAM-1 staining were not significantly different in both groups.
CONCLUSION
The expression of VEGF and PDGF in the syncytotrophoblast was significantly up-regulated in severe preeclamptic placenta. These up-regulation of VEGF and PDGF might reflect that placental ischemia and hypoxic state in severe preeclampsia induce VEGF and PDGF in the syncytotrophoblasts of placenta. However the unchanged pattern of ICAM-1 expression in severe preeclampsia suggests that ICAM-1 is unlikely to be a factor by which the adverse pregnancy outcome arises in severe preeclampsia.

Keyword

VEGF; PDGF; ICAM-1; Preeclampsia; Placenta

MeSH Terms

Endothelial Cells
Female
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
Ischemia
Placenta*
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor*
Pre-Eclampsia
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Stromal Cells
Up-Regulation
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*
Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A