Expression of inhibin/activin subunits alpha (-alpha), betaA (-betaA), and betaB (-betaB) in placental tissue of normal, preeclamptic, and HELLP pregnancies

During human pregnancy the placenta produces a variety of proteins for the establishment of the fetoplacental unit, including inhibins and activins. Inhibins are dimeric glycoproteins, composed of an alpha-subunit and one of two possible beta-subunits (betaA or betaB). Aims of the present study were...

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Published in:Endocrine pathology 2006, Vol.17 (1), p.19-34
Main Authors: Mylonas, I, Schiessl, B, Jeschke, U, Vogl, J, Makrigiannakis, A, Kuhn, C, Schulze, S, Kainer, F, Friese, K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biomarkers - metabolism
Female
Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
HELLP Syndrome - metabolism
HELLP Syndrome - pathology
Humans
Immunoenzyme Techniques
Inhibin-beta Subunits - metabolism
Inhibins - metabolism
Phosphates
Pre-Eclampsia - metabolism
Pre-Eclampsia - pathology
Preeclampsia
Pregnancy
Prenatal development
Trophoblasts - metabolism
Trophoblasts - pathology
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Summary:During human pregnancy the placenta produces a variety of proteins for the establishment of the fetoplacental unit, including inhibins and activins. Inhibins are dimeric glycoproteins, composed of an alpha-subunit and one of two possible beta-subunits (betaA or betaB). Aims of the present study were (a) the determination of the frequency and tissue distribution patterns of the inhibin/activin subunits in human placental tissue of normal pregnancies and pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets) and (b) the assessment of a combined expression of inhibin-alpha- and both beta-subunits (betaA-and betaB-subunits) using double immunofluorescence technique. A significant lower expression of the inhibin-alpha subunit in preeclamptic and HELLP placental tissue compared to normal pregnancies was observed, while the inhibin-alpha immunostaining was significantly upregulated in syncytotrophoblast. Additionally, we demonstrated a significant down-regulation of inhibin-betaB subunit in extravillous trophoblast cells between normal and preeclamptic compared to HELLP placental tissue, while inhibin-betaA-subunit was significantly higher in preeclamptic syncytotrophoblast cells. A colocalization of inhibin-alpha and the beta-subunits could be demonstrated, suggesting a production and secretion of intact inhibin A and inhibin B. Therefore, inhibin A and activin A might be useful markers in preeclampsia. Valuable parameters in HELLP syndrome could be inhibin A, rather than inhibin B, and activin B. Furthermore, the lower betaB-subunit production in extravillous trophoblast cells demonstrates that this subunit might have an important role in the pathogenesis of HELLP syndrome. Additionally, the higher production of the betaA-subunit in syncytotrophoblast cells suggest a higher production of activin A rather than inhibin A in preeclampsia that might be utilized as a marker of placental function.
ISSN:1046-3976
1559-0097
1046-3976
DOI:10.1385/EP:17:1:19