Alpha 2,6-Sialyltransferase I Expression in the Placenta of Patients with Preeclampsia

Background

The expression of sialyl-glycoconjugates changes during development, differentiation and oncogenic transformation, tumor invasion and metastasis. Similarly, in the early stage of pregnancy, trophoblast cells have to undergo adhesion, invasion, and proliferation to develop a healthy placenta; the cytobiologic behavior is similar to tumor growth and invasion. Inadequate trophoblast invasion to the spiral artery in the 2^nd trimester of pregnancy was believed to be correlated with pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia.

Methods

Alterations in α2,6-sialyltransferase I (ST6Gal I) mRNA in the placental tissues of women with preeclampsia (n = 20) and without preeclampsia (n = 20 used as a control) were examined by semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The transcription regulators of ST6Gal I including a “constitutive” promoter (Y + Z form), “hepatic” promoter (H form), and lymphoblastic promoter (X form) were investigated. The enzyme activity of ST6Gal I was also examined.

Results

Both mRNA expression and enzyme activity of ST6Gal I did not show a significant difference in the placental tissues of the women of both groups. The transcription regulators of ST6Gal I, including the Y + Z form and the H form, also failed to show any difference. The X form, seldom detected in the study, was excluded from analysis.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that ST6Gal I was not involved in the pathogenesis of the preeclampsia.

Key Words:  α2 , 6-sialyltransferase I , placenta , preeclampsia , pregnancy

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