Inhibin subunits mRNA expression level in human placenta from normal and Down's syndrome pregnancies

Citation
F. Debieve et al., Inhibin subunits mRNA expression level in human placenta from normal and Down's syndrome pregnancies, PLACENTA, 22(1), 2001, pp. 96-102
Citations number
37
Categorie Soggetti
Reproductive Medicine","da verificare
Journal title
PLACENTA
ISSN journal
01434004 → ACNP
Volume
22
Issue
1
Year of publication
2001
Pages
96 - 102
Database
ISI
SICI code
0143-4004(200101)22:1<96:ISMELI>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
In order to study the mechanisms leading to increased inhibin A and activin A in maternal serum with advancing gestation and increased inhibin A in Do wn's syndrome pregnancy, the mRNA expression level of inhibin and activin s ubunits was quantitatively studied in human placenta using Northern blot an d semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis. The corresponding protein level was als o determined by specific ELISAs for inhibin A, inhibin B, activin A and inh ibin pro alphaC in placental extracts. Normal placenta (n = 27) showed a sl ight significant increase in alpha and betaA subunit mRNA levels in term pr egnancy, with no change of the corresponding protein level. Placenta from D own's syndrome pregnancies (n = 6) did not differ from controls in either m RNA expression or corresponding protein levels. In conclusion, there is a d issociation between inhibin and activin subunit mRNA levels and the corresp onding protein levels in maternal serum, and Down's syndrome inhibin A incr ease is not explained by mRNA expression upregulation. In an additional stu dy, ovarian cortex tissue from term pregnancies (n = 3) were examined. Only the a subunit mRNA was expressed, at a higher level than in the placenta, suggesting that ovary could be a source of inhibin pm aC during pregnancy.( C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.