Growth-modulatory effects of heparin and VEGF165 on the choriocarcinoma cell-line JEG-3 and its expression of heparanase.

Background: Expression of heparanase (HPSE) in tumor cells is strongly associated with invasion, metastasis and angiogenesis. It also plays a key role during pregnancy, in processes of implantation as well as placentation. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and heparin are known to alter HPSE expression, with heparin given prophylactically to women with a history of placenta-mediated complications in subsequent pregnancies.

Heparanase expression in term placentas of diabetic patients and healthy controls.

Purpose: The prevalence of diabetic disorders in pregnancy is rising, which goes along with increased risks for maternal and foetal complications during pregnancy and delivery. The expression of the endo-β-D: -glucuronidase, heparanase (HPSE), may increase under hyperglycaemic conditions, is believed to play an important role in diabetes associated morbidity outside the female reproductive tract and is expressed in the placenta throughout gestation. However, the placental expression of HPSE has not been investigated in diabetic patients.