Telomerase and proliferative activity in placenta from women with and without fetal growth restriction

Abstract

Objective: To analyze telomerase and proliferative activity in placenta from women with and without fetal growth restriction (FGR). Methods: Telomerase activity was analyzed in 30 first-trimester chorionic villi specimens (group A) and in 28 second- and third-trimester placenta specimens (group B) from women without FGR. Telomerase activity also was analyzed in 11 placenta specimens from women with asymmetric FGR (group C). The proliferative activity of these 69 specimens was assessed by immunohistochemical staining, using the MIB-1 monoclonal antibody. Results: Telomerase activity was detected in 28 (93.3%) of 30 chorionic villi specimens and in 18 (64.3%) of 28 placenta specimens without FGR. In contrast, no telomerase activity was exhibited in the placenta specimens from any of the 11 women with asymmetric FGR by telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay. Telomerase activity also was detected by in situ telomeric repeat amplification protocol assay in trophoblastic cells from women without FGR but not in trophoblastic cells from women with asymmetric FGR. Thus, telomerase activity was detected significantly more often in groups A and B than in group C ( P < .01). The rate of proliferative activity, evident as positive MIB-1 staining in trophoblastic cells, in groups A and B (28.1 ± 1.7% and 7.0 ± 2.9%, respectively) was significantly higher than that in group C (1.9 ± 0.6%; P < .01). Conclusion: Telomerase and proliferative activity were minimal in placenta from women with asymmetrical FGR, suggesting placental senescence with asymmetrical FGR.