Jasenka Zmijanac Partl1, Valentina Karin2, Anita Skrtic3,4, Tamara Nikuseva-Martic2, Alan Serman5,6, Jelena Mlinarec7, Mirna Curkovic-Perica7, Semir Vranic8,9, Ljiljana Serman2. 1. a Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology , University Hospital Merkur , Zagreb , Croatia. 2. b Department of Biology, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia. 3. c Department of Pathology , University Hospital Merkur , Zagreb , Croatia. 4. d Department of Pathology, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia. 5. e Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia. 6. f Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology , Clinical Hospital "Sveti Duh" , Zagreb , Croatia. 7. g Department of Biology, Faculty of Science , University of Zagreb , Zagreb , Croatia. 8. h Department of Pathology , Clinical Center, University of Sarajevo , Sarajevo , Bosnia and Herzegovina. 9. i Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, School of Medicine , University of Sarajevo , Sarajevo , Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Since Wnt signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the placental development, we explored the expression of its negative regulators, SFRP1 and SFRP3 proteins in placentas from pathological pregnancies and compared their levels with those in healthy placentas. METHODS: Placentas (n = 79) were stained for SFRP1, and SFRP3 proteins by immunohistochemistry and their expression levels were quantified by stereological variable of volume density (Vv, mm°). RESULTS: Significantly higher expressions of SFRP1 and SFRP3 were found in all investigated groups of term and preterm pathologic placentas as well as in preterm control placentas in comparison with normal-term placentas. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate the active involvement of negative Wnt regulators SFRP1/SFRP3 in placental development and important role in pathology of pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE: Since Wnt signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in the placental development, we explored the expression of its negative regulators, SFRP1 and SFRP3 proteins in placentas from pathological pregnancies and compared their levels with those in healthy placentas. METHODS: Placentas (n = 79) were stained for SFRP1, and SFRP3 proteins by immunohistochemistry and their expression levels were quantified by stereological variable of volume density (Vv, mm°). RESULTS: Significantly higher expressions of SFRP1 and SFRP3 were found in all investigated groups of term and preterm pathologic placentas as well as in preterm control placentas in comparison with normal-term placentas. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate the active involvement of negative Wnt regulators SFRP1/SFRP3 in placental development and important role in pathology of pregnancy.