Expression of ß-catenin in human trophoblast and its role in placenta accreta and placenta previa.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression of ß-catenin in chorionic villi, and to explore its roles in placenta accreta and placenta previa. METHODS: We compared ß-catenin expression in the control group, placenta accreta group (lesion area and normal zones), and placenta previa group (placental central and placental edge zones) by immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and RT-PCR techniques. RESULTS: Compared with the normal group, the placenta accreta group had a longer length of stay, greater bleeding volume, and lower newborn birth weight. Further, the expression of ß-catenin was lower in both placenta previa and placenta accreta groups than in the control group, as measured by immunohistochemistry. Compared with the control group, expression of ß-catenin was significantly lower in the placenta previa and placenta accreta groups by Western blotting and RT-PCR. Importantly, the level of placental ß-catenin was significantly different when compared between the lesion and normal zones of placenta. CONCLUSION: The expression of ß-catenin in placenta accreta might play an important role in the regulation of placental cell invasion; low expression of ß-catenin in placenta accreta might be responsible for excessive trophoblastic invasion.