Fetal concentrations of the growth factors TGF-[alpha] and TGF-[beta]1 in relation to normal and restricted fetal growth at term

• Published in: Cytokine (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2012-10, Vol.60 (1), p.157-161
• Main Authors: Briana, Despina D, Liosi, Sofia, Gourgiotis, Dimitrios, Boutsikou, Maria, Marmarinos, Antonios, Baka, Stavroula, Hassiakos, Dimitrios, Malamitsi-Puchner, Ariadne
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; Birth; Blood vessels; Cord blood; Cytokines; Demography; Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; Fetuses; Gestational age; Growth factors; Infants; Inflammation; Mechanical stimuli; Mitosis; Parity; Placenta; Pregnancy; Trophoblasts; Vagina
• ISSN: 1043-4666
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2012.06.005

Transforming growth factor-[alpha] (TGF-[alpha]) and TGF-[beta]1 are major anti-inflammatory cytokines and substantially contribute to normal pregnancy outcome. TGF-[alpha] stimulates placental mitosis, whereas TGF-[beta]1 is a critical regulator of trophoblast invasion and fetal growth. We aimed to study cord blood TGF-[alpha] and TGF-[beta]1 concentrations in intrauterine-growth-restricted (IUGR, usually associated with abnormal trophoblast invasion, uteroplacental vascular insufficiency and enhanced inflammation) and appropriate-for-gestational-age-(AGA) pregnancies, and investigate possible correlations of the above concentrations with several demographic parameters of infants at birth. Plasma TGF-[alpha] and TGF-[beta]1 concentrations were determined by ELISA in 154 mixed arterio-venous cord blood samples from IUGR (n = 50) and AGA (n = 104) singleton full-term infants. After controlling for possible confounding factors (gender, birth-weight, gestational age, maternal age and parity), cord blood TGF-[alpha] and TGF-[beta]1 concentrations were significantly higher in IUGR than AGA group (b = 0.402, SE = 0.179, p = 0.027 and b = 0.152, SE = 0.061, p = 0.014, respectively). Delivery mode had an effect on cord blood TGF-[alpha] and TGF-[beta]1 concentrations, both being elevated in cases of vaginal delivery (b = -0.282, SE = 0.117, p = 0.018 and b = -0.123, SE = 0.059, p = 0.038, respectively). In conclusion, higher cord blood TGF-[alpha] and TGF-[beta]1 concentrations may represent a compensatory response to the inflammatory process characterizing the IUGR state. Additionally, higher cord blood TGF-[beta]1 concentrations in IUGRs could be attributed to increased shear stress, resulting from abnormal blood flow in IUGR fetal blood vessels. Finally, vaginal delivery-associated cytokine release may account for elevated TGF-[alpha] and TGF-[beta]1 concentrations.