Potential Role of Placental Klotho in the Pathogenesis of Preeclampsia

• Published in: Cell biochemistry and biophysics Vol. 74; no. 1; pp. 49 - 57
• Main Authors: Cecati, Monia, Giannubilo, Stefano Raffaele, Saccucci, Franca, Sartini, Davide, Ciavattini, Andrea, Emanuelli, Monica, Tranquilli, Andrea Luigi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-03-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Biochemistry; Biological and Medical Physics; Biomarkers - metabolism; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biophysics; Biotechnology; Case-Control Studies; Cell Biology; Down-Regulation; Female; Glucuronidase - genetics; Glucuronidase - metabolism; Humans; Life Sciences; Nanog Homeobox Protein - genetics; Nanog Homeobox Protein - metabolism; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 - genetics; Octamer Transcription Factor-3 - metabolism; Original Paper; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Placenta - metabolism; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Pre-Eclampsia - etiology; Pre-Eclampsia - genetics; Pre-Eclampsia - metabolism; Pregnancy; Telomere Homeostasis; Pregnancy; Gene expression analysis; Single-nucleotide polymorphism; Telomere length; Hypertensive disease
• ISSN: 1085-9195; 1559-0283
• DOI: 10.1007/s12013-015-0710-9

The aim of this study was to analyze the placental expression and allele status of promoter region of Klotho in association with preeclampsia, which represents the most common hypertensive disease of pregnancy. Klotho mRNA and protein levels were determined using real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively, in placental tissue samples obtained from 34 patients affected with preeclampsia and 34 controls. A PCR-based genotyping analysis was carried out in the promoter region of Klotho gene. Moreover, expression levels of pluripotency markers, Nanog and Oct4, and telomere length were assessed using real-time PCR. Klotho mRNA and protein levels were reduced in preeclamptic placentas compared with controls. −744delA single-nucleotide polymorphism was significantly associated with preeclampsia. In pathological placentas, there was a downregulation of pluripotency markers and a reduced telomere length. This study is the first to evaluate the placental expression level of Klotho in association with preeclampsia. Further analyses will clarify its role in the pathogenesis of this pregnancy hypertensive disorder.