DIFFERENCES IN MESSENGER-RNA EXPRESSION OF ENDOTHELIN-1, C-FOS AND C-JUN IN PLACENTAS FROM NORMAL PREGNANCIES AND PREGNANCIES COMPLICATED WITH PREECLAMPSIA AND OR INTRAUTERINE GROWTH-RETARDATION/

A defect in placental function has been suggested to be associated bot h with preeclampsia (PE), with or without concomitant intrauterine gro wth retardation (IUGR), and with IUGR as a single entity. Our aim was to compare the mRNA expression of the growth-related protooncogenes c- fos and c-jun and the vasoconstrictor and growth factor endothelin-l ( ET-1) in placentas from normal pregnancies with those of PE and IUGR. The mRNA expression of c-jun was significantly higher in all groups of complicated pregnancies while ET-1 and c-fos mRNA expression was sign ificantly higher only in the group with IUGR. These results support th e concept that an aberrant placental mRNA expression of the ET-1, c-fo s and c-jun genes is part of an altered pattern of gene expression in pathological pregnancies.