Increased Angiogenesis and Lymphangiogenesis in the Placental Villi of Women with Chronic Venous Disease during Pregnancy

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences 2020-04, Vol.21 (7), p.2487
• Main Authors: Ortega, Miguel A, Saez, Miguel A, Fraile-Martínez, Oscar, Asúnsolo, Ángel, Pekarek, Leonel, Bravo, Coral, Coca, Santiago, Sainz, Felipe, Mon, Melchor Álvarez, Buján, Julia, García-Honduvilla, Natalio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Angiogenesis; Biomarkers - metabolism; Case-Control Studies; CD31; Chorionic Villi - metabolism; chronic venous disease; Disease; Endothelium; Extracellular matrix; Female; Gene expression; Gestational Age; Growth factors; Humans; Hypertension; Hypoxia; Immunohistochemistry; Maternal Age; Membrane Glycoproteins - genetics; Membrane Glycoproteins - metabolism; Pathology; PIGF; Placenta; Placenta Growth Factor - genetics; Placenta Growth Factor - metabolism; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - genetics; Platelet Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; podoplanin (D2-40), Flt-1; Polymerase chain reaction; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; Prospective Studies; Protein expression; Proteins; Up-Regulation; Varicose veins; Varicose Veins - genetics; Varicose Veins - metabolism; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 - genetics; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 - metabolism; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072487

Pregnancy is a period in a woman's life associated with an increased risk of developing lower extremity chronic venous disease (CVD). Pregnancy-associated CVD is associated with changes in placental villi. We investigated angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis in the placental villi of women with CVD during pregnancy compared with healthy controls with no history of CVD (HC). An observational, analytical, and prospective cohort study was conducted on 114 women in their third trimester of pregnancy (32 weeks). Sixty-two participants were clinically diagnosed with CVD. In parallel, 52 controls with no history of CVD (HC) were studied. Gene and protein expression of CD31, podoplanin (D2-40), Flt-1, and placental growth factor (PIGF) was analysed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and immunohistochemistry. CD31 and D2-40 gene expression was significantly greater in the placental villi of women with CVD, as were the numbers of vessels positive for CD31 and D2-40. Significantly higher gene and protein expression of Flt-1 and PIGF was observed in the placental villi of women with CVD. Histological analysis showed more placental villi with periodic acid of Schiff (PAS)-positive material in women with CVD. Our results show a connection between pregnancy-associated CVD and leading to higher proangiogenic and lymphangiogenic activity in placental villi.