[Expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and endothelium-selectin in placenta of patients with pre-eclampsia].

Objective: To study the change and significance of the expression of transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and endothelium-selectin (E-selectin) in placenta of patients with pre-eclampsia.

Methods: Twenty normal pregnant women (control group) and 40 women with pre-eclampsia (pre-eclampsia group, including 16 women with mild pre-eclampsia and 24 women with severe pre-eclampsia) were selected. The cellular distribution of TGF-beta1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin in placenta in both groups was determined by immunohistochemistry, and the mean density was measured by computer image analysis system.

Results: (1) The level of TGF-beta1 in placental villous syncytiotrophoblast of pre-eclampsia group (70.7 +/- 0.5) was significantly higher than that of control group (70.3 +/- 0.6), while the level of VCAM-1 and E-selectin in pre-eclampsia group (VCAM-1: 82.5 +/- 0.5, E-selectin: 53.5 +/- 0.5) was significantly lower than that of control group (VCAM-1: 82.8 +/- 0.3, E-selectin: 53.8 +/- 0.4) (P < 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in women with mild pre-eclampsia (TGF-beta1: 70.6 +/- 0.6, VCAM-1: 82.4 +/- 0.6, E-selectin: 53.4 +/- 0.5) and severe ones (TGF-beta1: 70.8 +/- 0.4, VCAM-1: 82.6 +/- 0.5, E-selectin: 53.6 +/- 0.5) (P > 0.05); (2) The level of E-selectin in placental villous capillary endothelial cells of pre-eclampsia group (63.0 +/- 0.5) was significantly higher than that of control group (62.6 +/- 0.4) (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in women with mild pre-eclampsia (63.2 +/- 0.4) and severe pre-eclampsia (62.9 +/- 0.5) (P > 0.05).

Conclusion: TGF-beta1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin are not only related to placenta shallow bed of pre-eclampsia, but also participate in pathogenic process of vascular endothelial damage of pre-eclampsia.