Alpha-1-antitrypsin acts as a preeclampsia-related protein: a proteomic study.

AIMS: To screen the preeclampsia-related protein by proteomics. METHODS: Proteomics was performed to identify differential protein expression profiles between normal full-term pregnancy, early-onset severe preeclampsia (ES-PE) or late-onset severe preeclampsia (LS-PE; n = 10 per group). Real-time quantitative PCR and immunohistochemistry were conducted to confirm the expression of α(1)-antitrypsin (α(1)-AT) in the decidual tissues of different subjects. ELISA was employed to detect the α(1)-AT content in the peripheral blood of 90 women (n = 30 per group). RESULTS: We successfully constructed two-dimensional electrophoresis maps of decidual tissues, and a total of 20 differentially expressed proteins were identified. The α(1)-AT expression was different among the three groups. The normal full-term pregnancy women expressed the most α(1)-AT, and the LS-PE women expressed the least amount of α(1)-AT. The difference in the α(1)-AT expression was consistent with the proteomics data. The peripheral α(1)-AT content was the highest in the normal full-term pregnancy group (1.85 ± 0.15 g/l), moderate in the ES-PE group (0.77 ± 0.14 g/l) and lowest in the LS-PE group (0.42 ± 0.07 g/l; p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Using 2D PAGE, we identified twenty proteins with significantly altered expression in PE. These differentially expressed proteins include prevention protein, in which α(1)-AT is downregulated in PE.

[Expression of Rho-GDP dissociation inhibitor in the decidual tissues of preeclampsia patients and its clinical implication].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of Rho-GDI in the decidual tissues of patients preeclampsia and explore its clinical implication. METHODS: Real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of Rho-GDI in the decidual tissues from 30 normal women with full-term pregnancy, 30 patients with early-onset severe preeclampsia and 30 with late-onset severe preeclampsia. RESULTS: Rho-GDI expression was found mainly on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the decidual cells, occasionally occurring in the stroma. Both the mRNA and protein expressions of Rho-GDI in the decidual tissues were significantly higher in the normal pregnancy group than in the two severe preeclampsia groups (P<0.05), and the patients with late-onset severe preeclampsia had the lowest expressions of Rho-GDI. CONCLUSION: The lowered expression of Rho-GDI in the deciduas might be involved in the pathogenesis and progression of preeclampsia.

[Effects of calponin-1 gene silencing on the biological behavior of uterine smooth muscle cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effects of calponin-1 expression inhibition on the proliferation , invasiveness, apoptosis and cytoskeleton of uterine smooth muscle cells, and explore the molecular mechanism of calponin-1 in the uterine smooth muscle cells for labor onset. METHODS: siRNA-calponin-1 adenovirus plasmid was constructed and transfected into primarily cultured uterine smooth muscle cells. The proliferation, invasiveness and apoptosis of the cells were determined by MTT assay, matrigel invasion assays and flow cytometry, respectively. Rhodamine-Phalloidin was used for labeling filamentous actin (F-actin), and the morphology and the distribution of F-actin was observed under fluorescence microscopy and analyzed quantitatively. RESULTS: The motor ability of uterine smooth muscle cells decreased significantly after transfection with siRNA-calponin-1 adenovirus plasmid (P<0.05). The transfected cells showed thinner, loosened and irregular F-actin microfibers, and the cells in the empty vector and blank control groups showed thicker and longer F-actin microfibers. CONCLUSION: Inhibition of calponin-1 expression can inhibit uterine smooth muscle cell migration and cause the morphological change and rearrangement of F-actin without affecting its proliferation and apoptosis in vitro, suggesting that the morphological change and rearrangement of F-actin of uterine smooth muscle cell may be one of the important mechanisms in the labor onset.

[Expression of annexin V in decidua tissues of preeclampsia patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of annexin V in the decidua tissues of preeclampsia patients and explore its clinical significance. METHODS: Real-time PCR, Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the mRNA and protein expressions of annexin V in the deciduas from 35 normal pregnant women at full term, 38 early onset severe preeclampsia patients and 33 late onset severe preeclampsia patients. RESULTS: Annexin V was found on the cell membrane and in the cytoplasm of the decidual cells and stroma. Both the mRNA and protein of annexin V expressions in the decidua tissues were significantly different between normal pregnancy group and early or late onset severe preeclampsia group (P<0.05), being the highest in normal pregnancy group and the lowest in early onset severe preeclampsia group. CONCLUSION: The low expression of annexin V in the deciduas might participate in the hypercoagulability state in preeclampsia patients.

[Study of the role of nuclear factor-kappa B in preterm birth with subclinical chorioamnionitis].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in preterm birth with subclinical chorioamnionitis. METHODS: From October 2005 to October 2006, 111 cases including 36 cases of preterm birth in labor, 37 cases of full term gravida with spontaneous labor and 38 cases of full term gravida without threatened labor in the Hunan Province People's Hospital, third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University and Changsha Maternal and Child Care Service Center were enrolled in the study. After delivery, by pathology results of fetal membrane they were divided into two groups: subclinical chorioamnionitis group (subclinical infectious group) and non-infectious group. Immunohistochemical staining and RT-PCR were used to observe the change of the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB family in maternal blood and fetal membrane in subclinical infectious group and non-infectious group. RESULTS: (1) The incidence of subclinical chorioamnionitis: there were 24 cases of subclinical chorioamnionitis in the 36 cases of preterm birth in labor (67%), 7 cases in the 37 cases of full term gravida with spontaneous labor group (19%) and 3 cases in the 38 cases of full term gravida without threatened labor group (8%). There was a significant difference among the three groups (P < 0.01). In the totally 111 cases, 34 cases were classified as subclinical infectious group and 77 cases as non-infectious group. (2) In fetal membrane, the median of the average staining intensity of NF-kappaB p65 protein was higher in the subclinical chorioamnionitis group (8.0) than those in non-infectious group (4.0). Similarly, the average staining intensity of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA was higher in the subclinical infectious group (47.5 +/- 17.2) than those in non-infectious group (31.3 +/- 13.6). There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). (3) In maternal blood, the expression of NF-kappaB p65 protein and mRNA was higher in subclinical chorioamnionitis group(8.0 and 42.6)than those in non-infectious group(4.0 and 23.6).There was a significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.01). (4) The concentration of NF-kappaB p65 protein in fetal membrane was positively correlated with that of maternal blood (r = 0.581, P < 0.01) and the concentration of NF-kappaB p65 mRNA in fetal membrane was positively correlated with that of maternal blood (r = 0.571, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The expression of NF-kappaB in maternal blood and fetal membrane in preterm birth with subclinical chorioamnionitis is higher and the two are correlated with each other. NF-kappaB p65 could be an accurate biochemical marker in predicting subclinical chorioamnionitis in preterm birth. NF-kappaB p65 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of subclinical chorioamnionitis in preterm birth.

[Trophoblast cells invaing the placenta bed and change of spiral arteries and microvessels in pre-eclampsia].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the invason of trophoblasts in the placenta bed and the change of spiral arteries and microvessels in pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy. METHODS: Twenty cases of normal pregnancies, mild pre-eclampsia and severe pre-eclampsia were chosen as Group A, Group B, and Group C. HE staining and immunohistochemistry staining (SP method) were used to observe the depth and the density of trophoblasts invading the placenta bed and the change of spiral arteries and microvessels. RESULTS: The significant difference in the degree of invasion was in the superficial myometrial segment. Group C was the most superficial in the 3 groups (P<0.01). The density of trophoblasts which invaded the placenta bed in the lower half of the basal decidual segment and the myometrial segment showed us Group C was the lowest (P<0.01). There was statistical difference among the 3 groups (P<0.01). The average lumen area of the spiral arteries in the decidual segment and the superficial myometrial segment of the placenta bed was the smallest in Group C among the 3 groups(P<0.01) and there was statistical difference among the 3 groups (P<0.01). The spiral arteries were the thickest in Group C with statistical difference among the 3 groups (P<0.01). The physiological and pathological change of the spiral arteries was mainly in the superficial myometrial segment. The incidence rate of physiological changes in the spiral arteries was the lowest in Group C with statistical difference among the 3 groups (P<0.01). The incidence rate of pathological changes was the highest in Group C (P<0.01) and the normal group was the highest. There was significant difference among the 3 groups(P<0.01). There was positive correlation between the physiological change of the spiral arteries and the invaing degree of the trophoblasts (P<0.05), there was negative correlation between the pathological change of the spiral arteries and the invasion depth as well as the invasion density of the trophoblasts(P<0.05). There was negative correlation between the physiological change and the pathogenetic condition of pre-eclampsia(P<0.05)while there was positive correlation between the pathological change and the pathogenetic condition degree of pre-eclampsia(P<0.05). There was negative correlation between the invasion depth as well as density in uteruso superficial myometrial segment by trophoblast and the pathogenetic condition degree of pre-eclampsia(P<0.05). There was invasion trophoblast in 62.50% lumen wall of spiral arteries in uterus superficial myometrial segment of the placental bed in normal pregnancy while 27.5% was seen in severe pre-eclampsia. Microvascular density in the decidual segment and the superficial myometrial segment of the placenta bed in Group C was the lowest among the 3 groups with statistical difference (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The invasion depth of the trophoblasts in pre-eclampsia was more superficial than normal pregnancy.The changes of the invasion of the trophoblasts and the pathological changes of the spiral arteries in the placenta bed mainly existed in the superficial myometrial segment which was closely related to the severity of the illness. That microvascular density in the placental bed of pre-eclampsia started to decrease from the basal decidual segment shows that the microvessel development in the placenta bed is impaired in pre-eclampsia.

[Killing activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes stimulated by dendritic cell vaccine loaded with autologous cervical cancer antigen].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: Dendritic cells (DCs), the strongest antigen-presenting cells (APCs), can present antigens to T lymphocytes in vivo and in vitro, and induce cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) reaction. This study was designed to investigate the killing activity of CTLs stimulated by Dcs loaded with autologous cervical cancer antigen in vitro. METHODS: Tumor antigens were made from frozen-thawed cervical cancer cells from patients after operation. DCs were isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with cervical cancer, cultured with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and interleukin-4 (IL-4), loaded with tumor antigen to prepare DC vaccine, and used to stimulate autologous T lymphocytes to prepare antigen-specific CTLs. The killing activities of CTLs on autologous cervical cancer cells and HeLa, HepG2, MCF7, A549, and MGC803 cells were observed. RESULTS: CTLs stimulated by the DC vaccine had high killing activity on autologous cervical cancer cells, with killing rates of 79.32%-89.27% which were obviously higher than that of lymphokine-activated killing cells (t> or =2.89, P<0.05). The killing activity of CTLs was significantly weaker on HeLa cells (40.35%-58.09%) than on autologous cervical cancer cells (t> or =2.97, P<0.05). The specific CTLs had no obvious killing activity on HepG2, MCF7, A549, and MGC803 cells. CONCLUSIONS: CTLs stimulated by autologous cervical cancer antigen-loaded DCs have highly efficient and specific immune activity on autologous cervical cancer cells. It may be used in biotherapy for cervical cancer.