Specific Beta-1 Glycoprotein Research Articles

Pregnancy Specific Beta-1 Glycoprotein, Pro- and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines in Eclampsia in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Eclampsia (EC), a human pregnancy–specific-syndrome is the life-threatening occurrence of convulsion (s) in association with signs of preeclampsia (hypertension and proteinura). Eclampsia has remained a significant public health threat, contributing to maternal and prerinatal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. However, the pathogenic mechanism of the disease is not fully understood. Disturbance of the cytokine equilibrium has been accused for many pathological disorders including EC. Thus the aim of this study was to analyze the maternal cytokines and pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein in EC and compared results with those of normal healthy pregnant controls. Enzyme linkedimmunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure levels ofpro-inflammatory cytokines (Tumor necrosis [TNF]-α, and interleukin [IL] -2), anti-inflammatory cytokines [IL-4 and IL-10] and pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein (PSG-1) in the peripheral blood of patients with EC (n=38), normal healthy pregnant women [PC] (n=25) and compared withhealthy non pregnant women controls [NPC] (n=25). Women with malaria and human immunodeficiency virus infections were excluded from the study. The overall results (Mean ±SD) were: TNF-α (2.34 ±0.13 pg/ml) in EC was significantly higher than the mean values (2.25±0.07pg/ml and 2.24±0.10 pg/ml) in PC and NPC respectively. Furthermore, EC had higher TNF-α mean value compared with NPC (P<0.05). There was no statistical difference in mean IL-2 value between EC (1.69±0.17 Pg/ml), PC (1.71±0.0.09Pg/ml) and NPC (1.72±0.13Pg/ml) (P>0.05). The mean value of IL-10 was noted to be lower in EC (1.28±0.54Pg/ml) compared with: PC (1.58±0.61 Pg/ml) and NPC (2.06±0.08Pg/ml). No significant difference in IL-4 mean value exist between EC (2.45±0.10 Pg/ml) and NPC (2.45 Pg/ml) (P>0.05) but significant difference exist between EC and NPC (2.40±0.0 6Pg/ml) (P<0.05). The serum PSG-1 levels in EC (2.5±0.11 Pg/ml) and PC (2.5±0.03 Pg/ml) were similar and significantly higher than in NPC (0.06±0.020 Pg/ml) P<0.05. While a pro-inflammatory cytokine environment was demonstrated in EC, and decreased anti-inflammatory reactivity, EC was not associated with low levels of PSG-1. Further research is advocated to discover how anti-inflammatory cytokines could be exploited as a therapeutic agent for women at high risk of EC.

Gestational diabetic transcriptomic profiling of microdissected human trophoblast.

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), the most common metabolic complication of pregnancy, is influenced by the placenta, and its prevalence directly increases with obesity. Therefore, to define the aetiology of GDM requires that the confounding influence of obesity and the heterogeneous nature of the placenta impairing accurate quantitative studies be accounted for. Using laser capture microdissection (LCM), we optimized RNA extraction from human placental trophoblast, the metabolic cellular interface between mother and foetus. This allowed specific transcriptomic profiling of trophoblast isolated from GDM, and obese and normal human placentae. Genome-wide gene expression analysis was performed on the RNA extracted from the trophoblast of GDM and obese and normal placentae. Forty-five differentially expressed genes (DEGs) specifically discriminated GDM from matched obese subjects. Two genes previously linked with GDM, pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein 6 (PSG6) and placental system A sodium-dependent transporter system (SLC38A1), were significantly increased in GDM. A number of these DEGs (8 ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (UBE) splice variants (UBE2D3 variants 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 9) and UBE2V1 variant 4)) were involved in RNA processing and splicing, and a significant number of the DEGs, including the UBE variants, were associated with increased maternal fasting plasma glucose.It is concluded that DEGs discriminating GDM from obese subjects were pinpointed. Our data indicate a biological link between genes involved in RNA processing and splicing, ubiquitination, and fasting plasma glucose in GDM taking into account obesity as the confounder.

Pregnancy Specific Beta-1 Glycoprotein in Women with Eclampsia, Kaduna State, Nigeria

This was a comparative cross-sectional study of eclamptic and normal healthy pregnant women conducted in kaduna State, Nigeria to determine Pregnancy Specific beta-1 Glycoprotein (PSG-1) levels in the peripheral blood of third trimester women with eclampsia (EC; n = 38), normal healthy pregnant and non pregnant women controls (PC; n = 25 and NPC; n = 25 respectively), age and parity matched, attending labour rooms/wards and Antenatal Clinics (ANC) of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Shika, Zaria and four other Hospitals in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Participants with smear positive malaria, seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or any other known clinical infection were excluded from this study. Pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein levels were estimated using Quantikine ELISA kits. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 (Chicago, USA) and Graph pad Prism 6.0. Results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation while Kruskal Wallis test was used to determine the significant differences. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered to be significant. The mean serum level of PSG-1 in EC was 2.53 ± 0.11 pg/ml, PC; 2.56 ± 0.03 pg/ml) and NPC; 0.62 ± 0.20 pg/ml. There was no significant difference between EC and PC (P > 0.05). Pregnant women (with and without EC) had significantly higher mean serum values compared to NPC p < 0.05. While pregnancy was associated with high levels of PSG-1, the study did not support the hypothesis of low PSG-1 level in EC. A longitudinal study to capture changes in PSG-I levels in the course of pregnancy as they manifest is recommended.

人妊娠初期絨毛膜および脱落膜におけるSchwangerschafts-spezifisches β1-Glycoprotein, SP1の動態

人妊娠初期絨毛膜および脱落膜におけるSchwangerschafts-spezifisches β1-Glycoprotein, SP1の動態

Human sperm mRNA: differential expression between fertile and infertile men and maintenance of transcripts after fertilization

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the expression levels of the selected mRNAs: protamine 2 (PRM2), pregnancy specific beta 1-glycoprotein 1 (PSG1) and the nonclassical histocompatibility class I antigen (HLA-E) in ejaculated spermatozoa from fertile and infertile men, and to analyze the fate of these mRNA molecules following microinjection of a single human spermatozoon into hamster oocytes.

Variability in the expression of trophectodermal markers beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin, human leukocyte antigen-G and pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein by the human blastocyst.

Improved culture conditions that support the development of human embryos to the blastocyst stage in vitro led to the prospect of blastocyst transfer to increase pregnancy rates. Thus, there is a need for characterization of possible biochemical markers able to predict the implantation potential of human blastocysts. In this study, the expression of three placental markers that are expressed prior to implantation, beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G and pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein (SP-1), was investigated. beta-HCG transcript could be detected as early as the two-cell stage, which is one to two cleavage divisions earlier than previously reported. Both beta-HCG and HLA-G transcripts could be detected in the majority of blastocysts, but their levels were highly variable. No association could be found between the amount of transcript for these genes, total cell number or cell death rate. Interestingly, there was a highly positive correlation between accumulation of beta-HCG and HLA-G transcripts. SP-1 protein concentrations were assessed in the culture medium of blastocysts using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There was a significant positive correlation between SP-1 concentrations and blastocyst cell numbers. Moreover, synthetic oviductal medium enriched with potassium resulted in an SP-1 concentration twice as high as that observed using human tubal fluid medium. These data suggest that SP-1 may be used to select blastocysts with higher cell number, possibly resulting in higher pregnancy rates.

Maternal serum concentrations of pregnancy associated placental protein A and pregnancy specific -1-glycoprotein in multifetal pregnancies before and after fetal reduction

Placental function in multifetal pregnancies before and after embryo reduction was investigated by measuring maternal serum concentrations of pregnancy associated placental protein-A (PAPP-A) and pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP-1). Three groups of pregnant women were studied following assisted reproduction; groups 1 and 2, were 12 singleton and 12 twin pregnancies respectively, and group 3 comprised 12 women with multifetal pregnancies undergoing embryo reduction. PAPP-A and SP-1 were measured serially at 8-21 weeks gestation. In all pregnancies, maternal serum PAPP-A and SP-1 increased with gestation. In twin pregnancies the mean concentrations of SP-1 were significantly higher than in singletons at all gestations, whereas for PAPP-A, concentrations were similar between these groups. In multifetal pregnancies before embryo reduction, the serum concentrations of both proteins were significantly higher than in twin pregnancies. Following reduction, the concentrations of PAPP-A remained significantly higher than for twins throughout, whereas the concentrations of SP-1 gradually converged towards those of twins; by 19 weeks there was no difference between the means of the two groups. These findings suggest that circulating concentrations of SP-1 reflect total placental mass, which is proportional to the number of live fetuses, whereas the pattern of PAPP-A changes suggests that this protein is produced by the placenta, decidua and other tissues.

SPONTANEOUS OVARIAN CHORIOCARCINOMA IN TWO B6C3F1 MICE

This paper describes spontaneous ovarian choriocarcinoma in two B6C3F1 mice used in toxicity studies. One animal (case 1) was sacrificed at eight weeks of age, and the other one (case 2) was found dead at sixty-seven weeks of age. Macroscopically, a dark red dot measuring approximately I mm in diameter (case 1) and hematoma-like enlargement (case 2) were observed in the ovary. Microscopically, in case I, the neoplasm was fully packed with tumor cells and erythrocytes. The tumor cells were round to oval giant cells with abundant, faintly basophilic cytoplasm containing PAS positive granules. In case 2, some small and two large hematocysts were present. The hematocysts contained a large number of erythrocytes and a small number of tumor cells. The tumor cells were oval to elongated giant cells with abundant, basophilic cytoplasm. Immunohistochemically, tumor cells in both cases were positive or weakly positive for human placental lactogen (HPL), human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), and human specific beta-1 glycoprotein (SP-1). Both cases were considered to be originated from germ cells since those female animals were virgin.

Discordant secretion of pregnancy specific β1-glycoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin by human pre-embryos cultured in vitro

To study and compare the secretion of pregnancy specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) by human pre-embryos, cultured in vitro, with their respective morphological development. Spare human pre-embryos from randomly selected women participating in a program of in vitro fertilization (IVF) were studied prospectively. Pre-embryos were cultured, and hormone release was determined in academic research laboratories. Pre-embryos (n = 108) cultured for 14 days after fertilization in Ham's F-10 medium (GIBCO Ltd., Paisley, Scotland) were observed, and hCG and SP1 were measured in the culture media at regular intervals. Discordant secretion of SP1 and hCG. Of the 98 bipronucleate pre-embryos, 53.6% formed blastocysts, 17.3% of which hatched. Human chorionic gonadotropin was detected from day 7 after fertilization concomitantly with blastocyst formation, thereafter showing a logarithmic increase (maximum 10,650 mIU) until the first signs of embryonic disintegration. Pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein release started 3 to 4 days after fertilization independently of the morphological development and the future production of hCG, thereafter displaying a nonlogarithmic increase (maximum 41 ng). Hormone secretion and morphological development are unique for each pre-embryo. Human chorionic gonadotropin and SP1 seem to have different biochemical and physiological regulation.

Second trimester maternal serum pregnancy specific beta‐1 glycoprotein (SP‐1) levels in normal and down syndrome pregnancies

Maternal serum pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein (SP-1) levels in the second trimester may be predictive of Down syndrome (DS). An enzyme immunoassay was used to measure SP-1 sera from 46 DS pregnancies and 117 normal control women matched for maternal age, gestational age, and length of storage. In the normal control samples, there were slight correlations between the SP-1 concentration and maternal age. The maternal serum SP-1 levels increased with each week of gestation from 15 to 20 weeks. All but one of the DS sera had SP-1 levels greater than the normal median. Using a cutoff of 2.8 multiples of the median (MoM), 15.2% of the DS pregnancies were detected with a false-positive rate of 4.3%. A combinational logistic regression analysis of maternal age and pregnancy related serum proteins will detect additional DS pregnancies and decrease the false-positive rate. The combination of maternal age and SP-1 detected 33 (71.7%) of Down syndrome pregnancies. The addition of maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) levels allowed for the detection of 36 (78.3%) of the DS pregnancies with a decrease in the false-positive rate to 3.4%. The measurement of other serum constituents in conjunction with AFP appears to be a valuable addition to current screening programs, as this can increase the proportion of DS cases detected prenatally.

Discordant secretion of placental protein hormones in differentiating trophoblasts in vitro.

The regulation of trophoblast secretion of the placental proteins CG (hCG), placental lactogen (hPL), and pregnancy specific-beta-1-glycoprotein (SP-1) has not been fully elucidated. We therefore studied the secretion of hCG, hCG-beta subunit, hCG-alpha subunit, hPL, and SP-1, both in the basal state and after exposure to 8-bromo-cAMP, during the in vitro differentiation of cytotrophoblasts to syncytiotrophoblasts. Term placental tissue was enzymatically digested and cytotrophoblasts purified by Percoll density gradient centrifugation. At the time of seeding of 4-6 X 10(5) cells/ml in 35-mm flasks all of the cells were mononuclear and 48% contained hCG-alpha, but none contained hCG or hCG-beta by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase immuno-histochemical method. After 3 days in culture, hCG-alpha and hCG or hCG-beta were present in multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts and in the mononuclear cytotrophoblasts. During the 5 days in culture, the secretion of hCG, hCG-alpha, hPL and SP-1 into the media increased and reached a maximum on day 4 followed by a decrease on day 5. Basal hCG-beta secretion was very low and did not change during culture. The ratio of hCG-alpha/hCG decreased from days 1-4 of culture. Incubation with 8-bromo-cAMP for 24 h stimulated the secretion of hCG and hCG-alpha, whereas hCG-beta and hPL levels did not change. The secretion of SP-1, however, was inhibited by 8-bromo-cAMP. These results indicate that the cytotrophoblasts secrete hCG, hCG-beta and hCG-alpha during in vitro differentiation into syncytiotrophoblasts. Since the basal ratio of hCG to hCG-alpha secretion changed during 5 days in culture and a cAMP analogue differentially modulated the secretion of the different placental protein hormones, the physiological regulation of secretion of each of the proteins also may differ.

Placental Protein Distribution in Maternal Diabetes Mellitus: An Immunocytochemical Study

Placentas associated with maternal diabetes are generally characterized by features of villous immaturity. We correlated the villous histology with the immunocytochemical distribution of four trophoblastic proteins: beta human chorionic gonadotropin (beta HCG), placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), pregnancy specific beta-1-glycoprotein (SP1), and human placental lactogen (HPL) in 14 third-trimester placentas associated with diabetes mellitus. Staining was increased for beta HCG and decreased for PLAP, SP1, and HPL in the diabetic placentas compared to control placentas of similar gestational age. This pattern was most prominent in areas of marked architectural villous immaturity within individual placentas and suggests concomitant functional immaturity.

Immunological tissue markers in the diagnosis of testicular cancer

Immunohistochemistry greatly contributes to the accuracy of the diagnosis in testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) and alphafetoprotein (AFP) are the most used markers in testicular cancer, where the immunostaining is positive in non-seminomatous TGCT. Pure seminoma does not produce these proteins but some are combined with syncytiotrophoblastic cells which elaborate HCG, producing elevated HCG serum levels and positive immunostaining. Other markers deserve mention. Among these there are placental alkaline phosphatase (PLAP), ferritin (Fe), pregnancy specific beta1-glycoprotein (SP1), human placental lactogen (HPL), carcinoembrionic antigen (CEA) and alpha1-antitrypsin (A1AT). In addition, the recognition of intermediate filament proteins, such as keratin and vimentin, allow differentiation between seminoma and embryonal carcinoma.

An immunohistochemical study of intracranial germ cell tumours

Histologically verified intracranial tumours, mainly germ cell tumours of the pineal and suprasellar regions, were studied immunohistochemically using anti-serum of alpha fetoprotein (AFP), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), human placental lactogen (HPL), pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein (SP-1), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S-100 and neuron specific enolase (NSE). In germinomas, HCG positive cells were occasionally demonstrated in cells presenting as syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells (STGC), and GFAP and S-100 positive cells were found in the surrounding gliotic lesions. Teratomas were positive for CEA in their epithelial components. Endodermal sinus tumours were positive for AFP, choriocarcinomas for HCG and SP-1, and embryonal carcinomas for AFP, HCG and SP-1. HCG and SP-1 positive cells were demonstrated in STGC. As for the relationship between serum AFP level and tissue localization, many cases presenting a serum AFP level exceeding 220 ng/ml were positive for AFP in tumour tissue.

An Immunohistochemical Study on the Localization and Intensity of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human Placental Lactogen and Pregnancy Specific Beta-1 Glycoprotein in Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasms by Immunoperocidase Method

An Immunohistochemical Study on the Localization and Intensity of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, Human Placental Lactogen and Pregnancy Specific Beta-1 Glycoprotein in Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasms by Immunoperocidase Method

Correlation of immunohistochemical markers with patient prognosis in breast carcinoma: a quantitative study.

In a series of 46 cases of primary mammary ductal carcinoma, immunohistochemical markers of differentiation (casein, human placental lactogen, alphalactalbumin, pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoprotein, secretory component, CEA, and peanut lectin agglutinins [PLA]), were quantitated via point-counting. An immunoperoxidase bridge (PAP) was used to identify all except the PLA, in which an avidin-biotin complex with alkaline phosphatase development was employed. For none of the markers was there any difference in the quantity present in tumors of patients who had recurred versus the tumors of patients who had enjoyed a minimum of five years disease-free survival. Nonneoplastic epithelium was only rarely positive for these markers. Although eventually surmounted, technical problems significantly hampered application of morphometry to this histochemical material. The authors conclude that these markers have little relationship to differentiation toward mammary duct epithelium and that they do not provide significant prognostic information in patients with breast cancer.

The influence of various fixatives on the immunohistochemical demonstration of a number of plasma proteins and oncofetal proteins in paraffin embedded material.

The influence of different fixatives on the antigenicity of alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), albumin, prealbumin, transferrin, ferritin, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), specific pregnancy beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1) and human placental lactogen (HPL) was studied. No single fixative was superior for all the antigens investigated. For intracellular antigens the best all-around fixatives were, however, 10% buffered formalin, 4% buffered paraformaldehyde, 10% formol-calcium and ethanol acetic acid (EA), cold processed. The preferable fixatives were for AFP: Bouińs fixative, B-5 and EA; for albumin: 10% formol-calcium; for prealbumin: Zambonis fixative and B-5; for transferrin: EA; for ferritin: 10% buffered formalin, 4% buffered paraformaldehyde, Lilliés fixative, Zambonis fixative and EA; for HCG: Bouińs fixative and B-5; for SP1: Lilliés fixative and EA; and for HPL: 4% buffered paraformaldehyde and Lilliés fixative. The preservation of extracellular antigens was different from the above mentioned intracellular ones. Thus fixation in 10% buffered formalin gave poor results while the coagulant fixatives such as Bouińs fixative, B-5 and Clelands fixative in general showed good preservation of the antigenicity of the extracellular antigens.

Detection of pregnancy specific protein SP-1 by enzyme immunoassay in early pregnancy.

Levels of pregnancy specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP-1) were measured serially in serum by using enzyme immunoassay in 10 women after ovulation detected by LH-surge. Serum SP-1 levels rose at 13 and 20 days after the LH-surge.

Placental tissue concentration of pregnancy-associated proteins in early and term pregnancies

We examined the localization of five pregnancy-associated proteins such as pregnancy specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1), human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), human placental lactogen (HPL), alpha 2-PA-glycoprotein (SP3) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) in the placentae of early and term pregnancies by means of the PAP method in immunohistochemical technology. It was found that the degree of staining of these proteins did not reflect their concentration in serum at each gestational age. Therefore, the concentrations of these proteins in the solution extracted from the placenta were measured. 1) Placental tissues were fixed with a 10% neutral formaldehyde solution and these were embedded into paraffin blocks. These specimens were used for the PAP method. The localizations of five pregnancy-associated proteins from 10 placentae at the gestational age of 7 to 10 weeks were compared with those at the gestation age of 38 to 41 weeks from 7 patients. The staining degree of SP1 in free villi was pale in both early and term pregnancies. HCG was stained deeply in early pregnancy but pale at term pregnancy. HPL was stained deeply at both gestational ages. Horseradish peroxidase reaction products from SP1, HCG and HPL were located chiefly in the syncytiotrophoblast. SP3 was not stained on the placental tissue. PAPP-A was stained to a greater extent in the cytotrophoblast in early pregnancy but pale in the syncytiotrophoblast at term pregnancy. 2) The concentrations of SP1, HCG, HPL, SP3 and PAPP-A were measured in the placental tissues in both early and term pregnancies. Placental tissues were obtained from 24 normal pregnancy patients aborted artificially at 8 to 11 weeks gestation and from 28 patients terminated by normal deliveries at 38 to 40 weeks gestation. The tissue was homogenated with 3 volumes of 1/2 PBS (0.005M phosphate-buffered 0.07M sodium chloride, pH 7.4). The supernatant was removed after centrifugation and stored at -20 degrees C until assayed. The concentration of SP1 was measured by single radial immunodiffusion. That of HCG was assayed by a directed Latex agglutination test (Gestate Slide Eiken). The concentrations of HPL, SP3 and PAPP-A were quantified by rocket immunoelectrophoresis. No significant difference in SP1 levels was shown between early and term pregnancies, and the SP1 level was 4.3 +/- 1.3 (mean +/- 1 S.D.) mg/dl at term pregnancy. The HCG level was 1,100 +/- 300 IU/ml in early pregnancy and at least 20-fold higher than that at term pregnancy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Pregnancy specific beta 1-glycoprotein and alpha 2-pregnancy associated globulin in tumours of the female genital tract.

Tumour tissues obtained from 35 patients with malignancies of the female genital tract were investigated for production of pregnancy specific beta 1-glycoprotein (PS beta 1G) and alpha 2-pregnancy associated globulin (alpha 2-PAG). PS beta 1G was found in all five trophoblastic tumours studied and in 10 of the 30 nontrophoblastic cancers. alpha 2-PAG was not detected in any of the neoplastic tissues. In 18 of the patients with non-trophoblastic tumours PS beta 1G and alpha 2-PAG serum concentrations were also determined. No correlation between serum and tissue findings were noted. Thus, PS beta 1G does not seem to be a valuable serum indicator for monitoring the extent or variation of tumour mass in nontrophoblastic gynecological malignancies. Likewise, alpha 2-PAG is unlikely to serve as a clinical useful tumour marker in various gynecological cancers.