Comparative Morphometric Image Analysis of LYVE-1 and Podoplanin in HIV Infected Preeclamptic Women

Abstract

AbstractIntroduction: Preeclampsia is a serious medical complication and its exact pathogenesis is still unclear. The dysregulation of angiogenesis in preeclampsia is well known however, the role of lymphangiogenesis in the synergy of HIV infection and preeclampsia remains poorly understood. This study applied computer assisted morphometric image analysis to compare the immunohistochemical distribution of two lymphatic markers podoplanin and LYVE-1 in the placenta of women with HIV associated preeclampsia.Materials and Methods: Placental tissue was obtained from normotensive and preeclamptic women stratified according to their HIV status. The preeclamptic group was divided into early (< 34 weeks; EOPE) and late (>34 weeks; LOPE) onset preeclampsia. Immunostaining was performed using mouse anti-human LYVE-1 and D2-40 podoplanin antibodies and was morphometrically evaluated.Results: LYVE-1 immunostaining was localized within endothelium of the arterial supply and venous drainage of both conducting and exchange villi as well as within medial cells of arteries. In contrast, podoplanin was immunolocalized in a reticular-like stromal complex within the exchange and conducting villi. In general, there was a decline in the expression of both lymphatic markers in preeclamptic versus normotensive women, being more prominent during EOPE than LOPE. Both LYVE-1 and podoplanin were upregulated in HIV+ vs. HIV− groups regardless of pregnancy and villi type.Conclusion: This study provides a novel insight into the differential distribution of lymphatic markers, LYVE-1 versus podoplanin immunoexpression in the fetal circulation of HIV-infected preeclampsia. It highlights the benefits of computer assisted morphometric image analysis as a reliable tool for quantification of immunostaining in biological tissue.KeywordsLymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 (LYVE-1)MorphometryPodoplanin