Fibrosis in Preeclamptic Placentas Is Associated with Stromal Fibroblasts Activated by the Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (TGFB1) Signaling Pathway.

Fibrosis in Preeclamptic Placentas Is Associated with Stromal Fibroblasts Activated by the Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 (TGFB1) Signaling Pathway. Am J Pathol. 2017 Dec 15;: Authors: Ohmaru-Nakanishi T, Asanoma K, Fujikawa M, Fujita Y, Yagi H, Onoyama I, Hidaka N, Sonoda K, Kato K Abstract Although fibrosis is one of the most prominent pathological features of preeclamptic (PE) placentas, its mechanism remains largely unknown. Consistent with previous reports, we observed overexpression of collagen; actin, alpha 2, smooth muscle, aorta; connective tissue growth factor; and fibronectin in PE placentas compared with control ones. To investigate the mechanism of fibrosis in PE placentas, placental fibroblasts were isolated from PE placentas or normal pregnancies at delivery. The expression of fibrosis-related factors in fibroblasts was evaluated by real-time reverse transcription PCR, western blotting, ELISA, and gene microarrays. An in vitro collagen gel contraction assay was also performed. Fibroblasts isolated from PE placentas showed higher expression levels of fibrosis-related factors compared with those from control ones. Global gene expression profiling of PE fibroblasts was contrasted with that of control ones, and indicated intimate association with transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) signaling. Furthermore, the PE fibroblasts expressed abundant phosphorylated SMAD family member 2 and showed higher expression levels ...
Source: The American Journal of Pathology - Category: Pathology Authors: Tags: Am J Pathol Source Type: research