Transforming Growth Factor β Expression in Human Placenta and Placental Bed During Early Pregnancy

• Published in: Placenta (Eastbourne) 2002-01, Vol.23 (1), p.44-58
• Main Authors: Simpson, H., Robson, S.C., Bulmer, J.N., Barber, A., Lyall, F.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blotting, Western; DNA Primers - chemistry; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Immunoenzyme Techniques; Mother. Fetoplacental unit. Mammary gland. Milk; Placenta - blood supply; Placenta - metabolism; Placental Circulation - physiology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; Protein Isoforms - biosynthesis; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Transforming Growth Factor beta - biosynthesis; Transforming Growth Factor beta - genetics; Vertebrates: reproduction
• ISSN: 0143-4004; 1532-3102
• DOI: 10.1053/plac.2001.0746

Normal human pregnancy depends on physiological transformation of spiral arteries. Pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction are associated with impaired trophoblast invasion and spiral artery transformation. Recent data obtained from studies on placenta suggest that temporal changes in expression of TGF-β3 play a key role in trophoblast invasion and that over-expression of TGF-β3 in pre-eclampsia is responsible for inadequate trophoblast invasion. There are, however, no studies of specific TGF-βs in the placental bed throughout pregnancy although this is where the invasive trophoblast and spiral arteries are located. In this study we have used immunohistochemistry, Western blot analysis, ELISA and RT-PCR to examine the expression of TGF-β1, TGF-β2 and TGF-β3 in placental bed biopsies and placentas from 7–19 weeks' gestation. The results show that TGF-β1, 2 and 3 are expressed in the placenta throughout this time but the striking temporal changes in TGF-β3 expression previously reported were not observed. Extravillous trophoblast within the placental bed expressed TGF-β2 but not TGF-β1 or TGF-β3 while extracellular TGF-β1 and cytoplasmic TGF-β2 were detected in decidua. These data suggest that TGF-β1 and TGF-β2 but not TGF-β3 may play a role in trophoblast invasion.