Correlation between factors involved in the local haemostasis and angiogenesis in full term human placenta.

INTRODUCTION

Few studies have been carried out to investigate whether distinct areas of full term placenta express different amounts of markers involved in the placental haemostasis and angiogenesis. A possible relationship between the expression of genes involved in the haemostasis and angiogenesis of human placenta has not been investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight fresh human placentas (35-41 weeks of gestation) from uneventful pregnancies were dissected with two different methods. Quantitative mRNA expression of the tissue factor (TF), TF pathway inhibitor (TFPI), TFPI-2, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-2), annexin V (Anx V), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and thrombomodulin (TM) genes was evaluated by quantitative real time PCR system. Histology of each sample was graded.

RESULTS

Gene expression of all the considered markers was not significantly different in each area, using both the different methods of dissection. A significant correlation (p<0.05) was found between the expression of TF and TFPI-2. TF and TFPI-2 were significantly (p<0.05) associated with VEGF, whereas a stronger association (p<0.01) was found between TFPI and TFPI-2. TFPI and TFPI-2 were strongly associated with PAI-2 expression (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

In placentas with central cord insertion, gene expression is not dependent on the method of sampling site. A significant relationship between haemostasis and angiogenesis in at term placentas was shown.