Correlation between the expression of STOX1 in placenta of patients with early onset preeclampsia

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the relationship of STOX1expression and pathogenesis of early onset preeclampsia. Methods: 65 cases of preeclampsia women who delivered in Shanghai Pudong Hospital from October 2015 to June 2018, were recruited, which included 31 cases with early onset preeclampsia (early onset group, gestational week<34 weeks) and 34 patients with late onset preeclampsia (late onset group, gestational week ≥34 weeks). 34 cases women who received caesarean section because of pelvic structural deformities, breech presentation, macrosomia and social factors were included as the control group(gestational week ≥34 weeks) were selected as control group.The expression and localization of STOX1 mRNA and protein in placenta of three groups of maternal were evaluated by immunohistochemistry SP, RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Results: (1) The expression of STOX1 in placenta mainly distributed in the cytoplasm of placental syncytiotrophoblasts, cytotrophoblasts, vascular endothelial and mesenchymal cells, a few in the cell nucleus.The staining intensity of STOX1 in early onset group was significantly stronger than that in late onset group, the staining intensity of the late onset group was similar to that of the control group. The positive expression rates of STOX1protein in early onset group, late onset group and control group were 96.8%(30/31), 70.6%(24/34), 67.6%(23/34) respectively, which was higher in early onset group than that in late onset group(P=0.005). There was no statistical difference of STOX1 level between the late onset group and the control group(P=0.793). (2)Relative expression of STOX1 mRNA in early onset group, late onset group and control group were 0.054 3±0.003 5,0.037 5±0.000 7,0.035 2±0.000 4 respectively, which was significantly higher in early onset group than that in late onset group(P<0.05), while there was no statistical difference between the late onset group and the control group(P>0.05).(3)Relative expression level of STOX1 protein in early onset group, late onset group and control group were 0.78±0.04,0.59±0.020 and 0.54±0.018 respectively, which is higher in early onset group than that in late onset group(P<0.05). There was no statistical difference of STOX1 level between the late onset group and the control group(P>0.05). Conclusions: The pathogenesis of early onset and late onset preeclampsia may be different. Up-regulated expression of STOX1 in placenta may be associated with the pathogenesis of early onset preeclampsia.