Abstract
BackgroundPreeclampsia (PE) is associated with alterations of placental function. The incidence of PE is higher in insulin resistant states. Women with PE have high circulating levels of the metabolic regulator fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). FGF21 is synthesized in the placenta. The aim of this study was to compare the expression of FGF21, its receptors, downstream targets and transcriptional regulators in placental tissue from pregnancies with and without late-onset PE. Circulating FGF21 in maternal and cord blood was also studied.MethodsmRNA expression was determined by semi-quantitative real-time PCR and normalized for cellular composition in 17 women with and 20 without PE. Protein expression was quantified by Western Blot. FGF21 levels were measured by ELISA in maternal and cord serum of ten mother-baby dyads per condition.ResultsPlacental FGF21 mRNA and protein expression were similar in PE compared with control. Placental mRNA expression of the FGF receptors (1–4) and the co-receptor beta-Klotho was not different between the groups. There was no difference in the expression of the glucose transporters GLUT1, 3 or 4. PPAR-alpha but not PPAR-gamma expression was decreased in PE. Maternal FGF21 serum levels were not significantly different in PE. FGF21 was detected in cord blood of 6 infants (4 PE, 2 controls) but was undetectable in 14 infants.ConclusionsLate-onset PE is not associated with major changes to the expression of FGF21, its receptors or metabolic targets.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12958-015-0006-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with alterations of placental function
We have previously shown that fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is synthesized in the placenta [14]
This study investigated whether expression of placental FGF21, its receptors and co-receptor as well as its transcriptional regulators and metabolic targets differed in preeclampsia as compared to normal pregnancy
Summary
Preeclampsia (PE) is associated with alterations of placental function. The incidence of PE is higher in insulin resistant states. Women with PE have high circulating levels of the metabolic regulator fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21). The diagnostic criteria include hypertension with blood pressures > 140/ 90 mmHg and proteinuria developing after 20 weeks gestation. The risk of developing PE is higher in women with increased insulin resistance, as occurs in obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus [4]. Recent reports have shown that circulating levels of FGF21 at 28 weeks gestation are increased in women with PE compared with controls [13]. This suggests that FGF21 might have a role in the regulation of metabolism, and provide some explanation of the link between insulin resistance and PE
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