Placental Expression of VEGF, PlGF and their Receptors in a Model of Placental Insufficiency—Intrauterine Growth Restriction (PI-IUGR)

Placental development requires adequate and organized interaction of vascular growth factors and their receptors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF). Both VEGF and PlGF, acting through the tyrosine kinase receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, have been im...

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Published in:	Placenta (Eastbourne) Vol. 23; no. 2-3; pp. 132 - 144
Main Authors:	Regnault, T.R.H., Orbus, R.J., de Vrijer, B., Davidsen, M.L., Galan, H.L., Wilkening, R.B., Anthony, R.V.
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-02-2002
Subjects:	Adult Animals Disease Models, Animal Endothelial Growth Factors - genetics Endothelial Growth Factors - metabolism Female Fetal Growth Retardation - metabolism Fetal Growth Retardation - veterinary Gestational Age Humans Lymphokines - genetics Lymphokines - metabolism Membrane Proteins Placenta - metabolism Placental Insufficiency - veterinary Pregnancy Proteins - genetics Proteins - metabolism Receptors, Growth Factor - genetics Receptors, Growth Factor - metabolism Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction RNA, Messenger - metabolism Sheep - physiology Species Specificity Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
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Summary:	Placental development requires adequate and organized interaction of vascular growth factors and their receptors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF). Both VEGF and PlGF, acting through the tyrosine kinase receptors VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2, have been implicated in playing a role in ovine placental vascular development. The present studies describe the placental expression of components of the VEGF family at two maturational time points (55 and 90 days post coitus, dpc) in a hyperthermic-induced ovine model of placental insufficiency-intrauterine growth restriction (PI-IUGR). Both caruncular and cotyledonary VEGF and PlGF mRNA concentration increased with gestational age (P< 0.05), whereas only cotyledonary VEGF and PlGF protein concentration increased over gestation (P< 0.002). At 55dpc, VEGF mRNA concentration was elevated in hyperthermic (HT) ewes, compared to control thermoneutral (TN) animals (TN; 0.52±0.08 vs HT; 1.27±0.17 VEGF/GAPDH, P< 0.001). At 90dpc, expression of PlGF and VEGF mRNA was not altered by the HT treatment. Both TN cotyledonary VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 mRNA expression levels rose significantly over the period studied (P< 0.05 and P< 0.01 respectively). Receptor mRNA concentration in HT cotyledonary tissue was significantly reduced at 90dpc (VEGFR-1; TN 0.21±0.02 vs HT 0.11±0.01 VEGFR-1/actin, P< 0.05, VEGFR-2; TN 0.18±0.05 vs HT 0.07±0.01 VEGFR-2/actin, P< 0.01). Soluble VEGFR-1 (sVEGFR-1) mRNA was not detected in these tissues. These alterations in growth factor and growth factor receptor mRNA expression, as a result of environmental heat stress early in placental development, could impair normal placental vascular development. Furthermore, alterations in VEGF, VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2 mRNA expression, during the period of maximal placental growth, may contribute to the development of placental insufficiency, and ultimately intrauterine growth restriction.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0143-4004 1532-3102
DOI:	10.1053/plac.2001.0757