Plasmin System in Placenta from Women with Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancy

Roh, Cheong Rae; Lee, Je Ho; Yoon, Byung Koo

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
the aim of this study was to evaluate plasmin system in placenta fiom women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancy.
METHODS
The levels of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA), tissue-type plasrninogen activator(tPA), uPA receptor(uPAR) and plasminogen activatar inhibitor-1(PAI-1) mRNAs were measured by Northern blotting in placenta hom sixteen women with normal (n""8) and preeclamptic (n""8) pregnancy. The levels of tPA protein and PAI-1 protein were also measured by Westerrn blotting.
RESULTS
Densitometric measurements revealed no difference in the levels of uPA mRNA, uPAR mRNA, tPA protein and PAI-1 protein in placentas fiom normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. There was, however, a significant decrease in the level of 3.2 kb PAI-I mRNA in placentas from preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women.
CONCLUSION
To the contrary of our expectation, 3.2 kb PAI-1 mRNA level was significantly lower in placenta from women with preeclampsia compared to normal pregnancy. This seems to reflect differential accumulation of PAI-1 mRNAs due to environmental intluences or decreased differentiation potential of villous trophoblasts to invasive trophoblasts in placenta from preeclamptic women compared to normal pregnant women. The mechanism that regulates plasmin system in human placenta needs further investigations.