Expression of KLF-8 and MMP-9 in placentas and their relationship with the pathogenesis of preeclampsia / 中华妇产科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To evaluate the expression of Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF-8) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in placentas and their relationship with the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE).Methods Twenty-two women with PE (mild PE4 cases; severe PE18 cases) who received cesarean sections in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University from September 2011 to March 2012 were recruited as the PE group (n =22).And twenty women who received elective term cesarean section without perinatal complications were chosen as the control group (n =20).Placentas were collected and immunohistochemical SP method were employed to detect the localization of KLF-8 protein.KLF-8 mRNA level was determined by quantitative real-time PCR technique and western blot analysis was used to quantify KLF-8 and MMP-9 protein levels.Results (1) There was no difference of KLF-8 protein distribution in placentas of the PE group and the control group.It was mainly located in the nuclear and cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblasts.KLF-8 immunostaining was apparently decreased in the placentas of preeclamptic women when compared with the control group.(2)The KLF-8 mRNA levels were significantly decreased in placentas of the PE group (0.69 ±0.08) compared to those of the control group (1.14 ±0.09,P ＜0.01).(3) KLF-8 and MMP-9 protein levels significantly decreased in the PE placentas (0.68 ±0.05 and 0.21 ± 0.03) when compared to the control group (0.94 ± 0.06 and 0.34 ± 0.03,respectively,P ＜ 0.01).(4) There was a positive correlation between the expression of KLF-8 and MMP-9 protein in the placentas from PE and normal pregnancies (r =0.64,P ＜ 0.01).Conclusions KLF-8 mRNA and protein levels were decreased in placentas of PE patients compared to those of normotensive women.KLF-8 protein was primarily located in the invasion-related trophoblast cells and its expression had a positive correlation with MMP-9 levels.KLF-8 might have an important role in the pathogenesis of PE by regulation of trophoblast invasion.