Mushi Matjila1, Robert Millar2, Zephne van der Spuy3, Arieh Katz4. 1. MRC/UCT Receptor Biology Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, 7925, South Africa; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town 7937, South Africa. Electronic address: mushi.matjila@uct.ac.za. 2. MRC/UCT Receptor Biology Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, 7925, South Africa; Mammalian Research Institute, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0001, South Africa; Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, Scotland, United Kingdom. 3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Groote Schuur Hospital, Cape Town 7937, South Africa. 4. MRC/UCT Receptor Biology Unit, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Division of Medical Biochemistry, University of Cape Town, 7925, South Africa.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the placental mRNA and protein expression of metastasis suppressor gene Kiss-1 and the transcript expression of its receptor GPR-54 across the maternal-fetal interface of healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. To furthermore compare placental tissue kisspeptin expression to circulatory kisspeptin levels in these pregnancies. SETTING: Secondary and Tertiary Hospital Setting in Cape Town, South Africa. POPULATION: Patients with and without preeclampsia undergoing elective caesarean delivery. METHODS: The placenta, placental bed and decidua parietalis as well as maternal and cord blood in both healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies were simultaneously sampled at elective caesarean delivery. RT-PCR was utilised to determine mRNA expression while immunohistochemistry was employed to investigate protein expression in maternal-fetal tissues. Circulating maternal and cord serum kisspeptin concentrations were determined using ELISA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal-fetal tissue mRNA expression of Kiss-1 and GPR-54 as well as maternal/cord serum kisspeptin concentrations in healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. RESULTS: There was high placental kisspeptin expression but low circulating serum kisspeptin levels in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Kiss-1 mRNA and protein expression was minimal in the maternal tissues (placental bed and decidua parietalis) of both healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. No difference was found in Kiss-1 receptor (GPR-54) mRNA expression across maternal-fetal tissues of healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Increased placental kisspeptin expression is consistent with reduced trophoblast invasiveness and may represent a molecular mechanism that explains the development of preeclampsia. Decreased circulating kisspeptin concentration has the potential to be utilised as a marker for placental dysfunction.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the placental mRNA and protein expression of metastasis suppressor gene Kiss-1 and the transcript expression of its receptor GPR-54 across the maternal-fetal interface of healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. To furthermore compare placental tissue kisspeptin expression to circulatory kisspeptin levels in these pregnancies. SETTING: Secondary and Tertiary Hospital Setting in Cape Town, South Africa. POPULATION: Patients with and without preeclampsia undergoing elective caesarean delivery. METHODS: The placenta, placental bed and decidua parietalis as well as maternal and cord blood in both healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies were simultaneously sampled at elective caesarean delivery. RT-PCR was utilised to determine mRNA expression while immunohistochemistry was employed to investigate protein expression in maternal-fetal tissues. Circulating maternal and cord serum kisspeptin concentrations were determined using ELISA. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Maternal-fetal tissue mRNA expression of Kiss-1 and GPR-54 as well as maternal/cord serum kisspeptin concentrations in healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. RESULTS: There was high placental kisspeptin expression but low circulating serum kisspeptin levels in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Kiss-1 mRNA and protein expression was minimal in the maternal tissues (placental bed and decidua parietalis) of both healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. No difference was found in Kiss-1 receptor (GPR-54) mRNA expression across maternal-fetal tissues of healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: Increased placental kisspeptin expression is consistent with reduced trophoblast invasiveness and may represent a molecular mechanism that explains the development of preeclampsia. Decreased circulating kisspeptin concentration has the potential to be utilised as a marker for placental dysfunction.
Authors: Jovanna Tsoutsouki; Bijal Patel; Alexander N Comninos; Waljit S Dhillo; Ali Abbara Journal: Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) Date: 2022-07-19 Impact factor: 6.055
Authors: Ali Abbara; Maya Al-Memar; Maria Phylactou; Elisabeth Daniels; Bijal Patel; Pei C Eng; Rans Nadir; Chioma Izzi-Engbeaya; Sophie A Clarke; Edouard G Mills; Tia Hunjan; Ewa Pacuszka; Lisa Yang; Paul Bech; Tricia Tan; Alexander N Comninos; Tom W Kelsey; Christopher Kyriacou; Hanine Fourie; Tom Bourne; Waljit S Dhillo Journal: J Clin Endocrinol Metab Date: 2022-01-01 Impact factor: 5.958