Fetoplacental regional variations in the expression of angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2, and Tie2 in normal-term and near-term pregnancies.

Background: Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1), angiopoietin-2 (Ang2), and the receptor tyrosine kinase with immunoglobulin-like and EGF-like domains 2 (Tie2) are known to be involved in fetoplacental angiogenesis adequacy, which is a primary determinant of fetal growth. Regional variations in Ang1, Ang2, and Tie2 remain unknown, although fetoplacental vascularity and gene expressions differ between the placental center and the periphery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that there are regional variations in the expression of these angiopoietins in human placentas from uncomplicated term and near term pregnancies.