Abstract
The human umbilical cord forms a connection between the placenta and the foetus. It is composed of two arteries and one vein surrounded by Wharton's jelly. Pre-eclampsia is accompanied by extensive remodeling of extracellular matrix of umbilical cord. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are engaged in degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and activation/inactivation of certain cytokines and enzymes. These enzymes will probably play a central role in the release of matrix-embedded cytokines and growth factors. MMP-2 (gelatinase A) is the main collagenolytic enzyme of both umbilical artery and vein. Other metalloproteinases are present in several times lower amounts. Reduced activity of collagen-degrading enzymes may be a factor, which enhances the accumulation of collagen and some other proteins in the pre-eclamptic umbilical cord tissues. It seems to be possible that similar alterations occur in other fetal blood vessels. It may result in an increase in peripheral resistance as well as an increase in the blood pressure in the fetal vascular system. Some observations suggest that the raised pressure may persist after birth. Pre-eclampsia may be a factor that evokes an initiation of hypertension in utero and its amplification through childhood and adulthood.
Highlights
The human umbilical cord forms a connection between the placenta and the foetus
It was found by metabolic studies (“pulse-chase” experiment) with the use of 14C-proline that tissue slices of the umbilical cord arteries (UCAs) taken from newborns delivered by mothers with pre-eclampsia incorporate much more of this amino acid into collagenase-sensitive and hydroxyprolinecontaining protein and demonstrate decreased degradation of newly synthesised collagen in comparison to corresponding slices taken from newborns delivered by healthy mothers [11]
We have found that preeclampsia is accompanied by an extensive remodeling of the extracellular matrix of the umbilical cord vein (UCV) of newborns delivered by mothers with pre-eclampsia
Summary
The human umbilical cord forms a connection between the placenta and the foetus. It is composed of three blood vessels of different structure and function, one vein, which transports oxygenated and nutrition-rich blood from placenta to foetus, and two arteries, which transport deoxygenated blood and metabolic waste products from foetus to placenta. All these vessels are surrounded by Wharton’s jelly [1], which constitutes the major part of human umbilical cord and provides a thick protective mantle around vessels. Proteolysis is a major process leading to changes in the ECM [4]
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