Increased lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 expression in the placentas of women with intrahepatic cholestasis during pregnancy.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) is a reversible cholestatic liver disease of undefined etiology and pathogenesis. It is likely associated with dyslipidemia. However, the explanation for the role of dyslipidemia is not clear. We hypothesized that an increased oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) may play a crucial role in the development of the disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the plasma oxLDL level and LOX-1 expression in placentas from women with ICP. METHODOLOGY: The plasma oxLDL level and LOX-1 expression were detected in 94 intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy patients (ICP group) and 94 healthy pregnant women (control group). The placental LOX-lexpression was detected by Western blotting; the plasma oxLDL was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The placental LOX-1 expression in the ICP group was higher than that in the control group (p < 0.05), whereas the plasma oxLDL did not differ significantly between the patients with ICP and healthy pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: LOX-1 may play a crucial role in the pathophysiological processes of ICP caused by over-apoptosis of trophocytes. Moreover, LOX-1 could be a potential target for therapeutic intervention.