E. Bottini et al., The genetics of signal transduction and the feto-maternal relationship. A study of cytosolic low molecular weight phosphotyrosine phosphatase, DIS MARKER, 14(3), 1998, pp. 143-150
Intracellular kinases mediate positive signalling ii-om surface receptors b
y phosphorylating critical target proteins whereas phosphatases inhibit thi
s process. Differential phosphatase activity at the fete-maternal interface
could determine the appropriate relative growth and development on each si
de of the placenta.
The highly polymorphic cytosolic low molecular weight phosphotyrosine-phosp
hatase (ACP1-cLMWPTPase) has been studied in 170 women who had at least two
consecutive spontaneous abortions along with their husbands and in 352 nor
mal puerperae along with their newborn babies.
Symmetry analysis of joint wife/husband and mother/infant distribution sugg
ests that when ACP1 activity is lower in the mother than in either her abor
ted fetus or her child, the probability of abortion is higher and the survi
val to term is lower as compared to pairs in which the ACP1 activity is hig
her in the mother than in her fetus. Further analysis has shown that the ef
fect is due to S isoform: i.e. a high mother/fetus Sisoform ratio favours i
ntrauterine survival.
Analysis of gestational duration and birth weight suggests that a high ACP1
maternal activity coupled with a low or moderate fetal activity favour fet
al growth and developmental maturation.
The present data indicate that maternal-fetal genetic differences in signal
transduction could contribute significantly to variability of intrauterine
developmental parameters manifestation of pregnancy.