PP014. Estimating fully and minimal oxidized low density lipoprotein accumulation in placental tissue in intrauterine growth restriction and healthy controls.

INTRODUCTION

We recently demonstrated that maternal serum LDL- and fetal serum HDL-cholesterol concentration is significantly reduced in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) [1].

OBJECTIVES

We now hypothesized that increased oxidative stress in IUGR placenta leads to an accumulation of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) particles which then become trapped within the placenta subsequently leading to reduced availability of cholesterol for mother and fetus.

METHODS

Fully oxidized LDL (oxLDL) was determined via immunohistochemistry in placental paraffin sections of 18 women suffering from IUGR and 18 gestational age matched controls. Ten 'High Power Fields' were chosen randomly by the newCAST software and oxLDL expression was estimated via standardized methods by two independent and blinded observers. Minimal oxidatively modified LDL (MM-LDL) and non-modified Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) concentration was measured in full placental tissue lysates by ELISA. Values were correlated with maternal and fetal total cholesterol, LDL-, and HDL-cholesterol concentrations. Statistical examinations were carried out by Student's t-test and calculation of Pearson's correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

oxLDL was found predominantly to be in villous trophoblast and placental endothelium. OxLDL intensity tended to be increased in IUGR (Table 1). We found MM-LDL concentrations in whole placental tissue lysates to be highly correlated to placental ApoB concentration (r=0.93). Both parameters were non-significantly decreased in placenta of IUGR compared to controls (Table 1). Maternal serum LDL-C, and fetal serum LDL-C, TC, and HDL-C concentrations were significantly decreased in IUGR compared to controls (Table 2). OxLDL staining intensity was mildly negatively correlated to maternal LDL-C (r=-0.315) and much less to fetal HDL-C concentrations (r=-0.212). Placental ApoB and MM-LDL concentration were moderately positively correlated with fetal HDL-C concentrations (r=0.492 and r=0.447).

CONCLUSION

Conformational changes of the ApoB lipoprotein during the process of oxidation might lead to an accumulation of oxLDL particles in placental tissue of IUGR and reduced fetal cholesterol bioavailability as evidenced by a decrease in fetal serum cholesterol levels. However, our analysis lacks in sufficient power and further studies are underway focussing on that subject.