Expression of E-Cadherin and Ber-EP4 in the Trophoblastic Tissues of Intrauterine and Ectopic Tubal Pregnancies

• Published in: Fetal and pediatric pathology 2024-06, p.1-10
• Main Authors: Koc, Nermin, Arinkan, Sevcan Arzu, Sonmez, Cansu, Kaya, Berker
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1551-3815; 1551-3823; 1551-3823
• DOI: 10.1080/15513815.2024.2368579

We investigated the role of E-cadherin and Ber-EP4 in tubal pregnancy by comparing their expressions in epithelial and trophoblastic cells both in ectopic tubal and intrauterine pregnancies. The Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded blocks of 17 intrauterine and 17 tubal pregnancies were immunohistochemically stained with E-cadherin and Ber-EP4. E-cadherin was expressed in the epithelium, villous and extravillous trophoblast in tubal and intrauterine pregnancies but not in the syncytiotrophoblast. The staining intensity was lower in the extra-villous trophoblast in tubal ectopic pregnancies compared with intrauterine pregnancies. Ber-EP4 was expressed in the epithelium of tubal and intrauterine pregnancies and only in villous cytotrophoblast. The intensity of staining in tubal pregnancy was higher than in intrauterine pregnancy. The loss of E-cadherin expression in extra-villous trophoblast and increased expression of Ber-EP4 in the villous cytotrophoblast may play a role in the formation of tubal pregnancy by allowing the blastocyst to attach to the tubal epithelium.