Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the expression of netrin-1 in placenta from patients with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and its effect on the viability and apoptosis of human placental microvascular endothelial cells. Thirty-three patients with FGR (including eighteen severe cases) and twenty-four normal late pregnant women were investigated. The expression of netrin-1 in placental tissues was detected by employing immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and Western blotting. Human placental microvascular endothelial cells were isolated and, after treatment with netrin-1, examined for their viability and apoptosis by using MTT assay and flow cytometry. We demonstrated that the netrin-1 was present in placenta. Netrin-1 was significantly reduced in pregnant women with FGR as compared with the controls. Furthermore, netrin-1 enhanced the viability of human placental microvascular endothelial cells and inhibited their apoptosis. Netrin-1 may regulate the development of placental vessels and plays a key role in the pathogenesis of FGR.
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This work was supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30872776).
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Qian-hua, W., Shao-ping, Z., Jian-wen, Z. et al. Reduced expression of netrin-1 is associated with fetal growth restriction. Mol Cell Biochem 350, 81–87 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-010-0684-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-010-0684-2