Relaxin, Its Receptor (RXFP1), and Insulin-Like Peptide 4 Expression Through Gestation and in Placenta Accreta

• Published in: Reproductive sciences (Thousand Oaks, Calif.) Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 968 - 980
• Main Authors: Goh, William, Yamamoto, Sandra Y., Thompson, Karen S., Bryant-Greenwood, Gillian D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.08.2013; Springer International Publishing
• Subjects: Case-Control Studies; Embryology; Female; Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; Gestational Age; Humans; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 - metabolism; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Medicine & Public Health; Obstetrics/Perinatology/Midwifery; Original; Original Article; Placenta - metabolism; Placenta Accreta - genetics; Placenta Accreta - metabolism; Pregnancy; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - genetics; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled - metabolism; Receptors, Peptide - genetics; Receptors, Peptide - metabolism; Relaxin - genetics; Relaxin - metabolism; Reproductive Medicine; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 - genetics; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 - metabolism; Trophoblasts - metabolism; relaxin; placenta accreta; basal plate; trophoblast; RXFP1; INSL4
• ISSN: 1933-7191; 1933-7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1933719112472735

This study was designed to show whether placental relaxin (RLN), its receptor (RXFP1), or insulin-like peptide 4 (INSL4) might have altered expression in patients with placenta accreta. The baseline expression of their genes through gestation (n = 34) was quantitated in the placental basal plate (BP) and villous trophoblast (TR), and compared to their expression in placenta accreta (n = 6). The proteins were also immunolocalized and quantitated in the accreta tissues. The messenger RNAs (mRNAs) of matrix metalloproteinase 9, -2, and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 were also measured. Results demonstrated that the BP and TR expressed low levels of RLN/RXFP1 and INSL4 through gestation. In accreta, increased RLN gene and protein in BP were associated with antepartum bleeding whereas INSL4 expression decreased throughout the TR. There were no changes in mRNAs for MMPs, but TIMP-1 was increased only in the invasive TR.