The role of VEGF and its receptors in the etiology of early pregnancy loss

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR1, VEGFR2) in maternal and embryonic tissues in the etiology of early pregnancy loss.Methods: Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze the expression of VEGF and its receptors in placental and decidual tissues of 80 women with spontaneous incomplete abortion (n = 20), missed abortion (n = 20), blighted ovum (n = 20) and from early terminated pregnancies (n = 20).Results: Compared with the controls, all study groups showed weaker VEGF immunoreactivity in cytotrophoblasts and syncytiotrophoblasts of placental villi and endothelial cells of decidua (p = 0.002, p = 0.003, p < 0.001 respectively). Decidual endothelial cells of study groups except for blighted ovum showed weaker VEGFR1 immunoreactivity as compared to controls (p < 0.001). Placental villi cytotrophoblasts, syncytiotrophoblasts, decidual endothelial cells and endometrial gland epithelial cells showed weaker VEGFR2 immunoreactivity in all study groups compared to controls (p < 0.001). Placental villi endothelial cells showed the weakest VEGFR2 immunoreactivity in incomplete abortion group and the strongest staining in the blighted ovum group (p < 0.001).Conclusion: These results suggest that decreased expression of VEGFR1 in decidua and weaker VEGF and VEGFR2 expression in placental villi and decidua may be associated with early pregnancy loss.