Korean J Pathol.  2005 Feb;39(1):34-40.

Telomerase activity and Expression of MIB-1, Fas and Fas Ligand in Placentas from Women with and without Intrauterine Growth Retardation

• Chun YK
• Hong SR
• Yang MH

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The placenta from a pregnancy that is complicated by intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) tends to be smaller than that from a normal pregnancy. To investigate this difference, we analyzed the telomerase activity, the proliferative activity and the mRNA levels of apoptosis mediators in placentas.
METHODS
In 20 placentas from normal third-trimester pregnancies and 22 placentas form pregnancies that were complicated by IUGR, the telomerase activity was detected by a telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. The proliferative activity was assessed by immunohistochemical staining using the MIB-1 monoclonal antibody. The expression of the apoptosis mediator was evaluated by semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reactions for fas and fas ligand.
RESULTS
Telomerase activity was detected in 2 (10%) of 20 normal placentas, whereas it was not observed in all tested 13 placentas that were associated with IUGR. The proliferative activity was significantly low in the placentas that were associated with IUGR (7.44+/-2.96%), compared with the normal placentas (11.0+/-3.48%, p=0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in the mRNA levels of fas or fas ligand between two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Low telomerase and proliferative activities in the placenta may play a role in the pathogenesis of IUGR.

Keyword

Telomerase; MIB-1; Fas; Fas-ligand; Placenta

MeSH Terms

Apoptosis
Fas Ligand Protein*
Female
Fetal Growth Retardation*
Humans
Placenta*
Pregnancy
RNA, Messenger
Telomerase*
Fas Ligand Protein
RNA, Messenger
Telomerase