Placental gene expression patterns of epidermal growth factor in intrauterine growth restriction

• Published in: European journal of obstetrics & gynecology and reproductive biology Vol. 170; no. 1; pp. 96 - 99
• Main Authors: Rab, Attila, Szentpéteri, Imre, Kornya, László, Börzsönyi, Balázs, Demendi, Csaba, Joó, József Gábor
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 01.09.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Body mass index; Case-Control Studies; Epidermal growth factor; Epidermal Growth Factor - metabolism; Female; Fetal Growth Retardation - metabolism; Gene Expression; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Intrauterine growth restriction; Male; Maternal age; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Placenta; Placenta - metabolism; Pregnancy; Sex Characteristics; Young Adult; transforming growth factor beta; EGFR; abdominal circumference; ErbB-1-4; TGF-α; intrauterine growth restriction; TGF-β; transforming growth factor alfa; BMI; AC; EGF; body mass index; erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 1–4; LIF; IGF-1; IGF-2; VEGF-A; Gene expression; Placenta; Maternal age; IUGR; leukemia inhibiting factor; insulin-like growth factor 2; insulin-like growth factor 1; epidermal growth factor; vascular endothelial growth factor A; EGF-receptor; Intrauterine growth restriction; Body mass index; Epidermal growth factor
• ISSN: 0301-2115; 1872-7654
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejogrb.2013.05.020

Abstract Objective In this study, we compared human placental gene expression patterns of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) vs. normal pregnancies as control. Study design Gene expression of EGF was determined from human placental samples collected from all pregnancies presenting with IUGR at our institution during the study period January 1, 2010–January 1, 2011. Multiple clinical variables were also assessed including maternal age, gestational weight gain, increase of BMI during pregnancy and fetal gender. Results A total of 241 samples were obtained (101 in the IUGR pregnancy group, 140 in the normal pregnancy group). EGF was found to be underexpressed in the IUGR group compared to normal pregnancy (Ln2α : −1.54; p < 0.04). Within the IUGR group no fetal gender-dependent difference was seen in EGF gene expression (Ln2α : 0.44; p < 0.06). Similarly, no significant difference in EGF expression was noted in cases with more vs. less severe forms of IUGR (Ln2α : −0.08; p = 0.05). IUGR pregnancies were significantly more common in the maternal age group 35–44 years compared to other age groups. Gestational weight gain and gestational BMI increase were significantly lower in IUGR pregnancies compared to controls. Conclusions Placental expression of EGF was found to be reduced in IUGR pregnancies vs. normal pregnancies. This may partly explain the smaller placental size and placental dysfunction commonly seen with IUGR. An increased incidence of IUGR was observed with maternal age exceeding 35 years. The probability of IUGR correlated with lower gestational weight gain and lower BMI increase during pregnancy.