| The BRCA1 Expression in Placenta of Normal and Fetal Growth Restriction. |
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J S Moon, J H Jeong, C S Park, S H Yang, J R Roh, S Y Song |
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| Abstract |
OBJECTIVE
BRCA1, the breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility gene, is regarded as not only a tumor suppressor gene but regulator of cell growth and differentiation. We hypothesized that there is a relationship between BRCA1 expression and growth and differentiation of trophoblast. METHODS: Twenty placental samples were collected from 5 fetal growth-restricted term pregnancies and 15 normal growth pregnancies at different gestational ages [from 9th week of gestational age to term ; 5 samples from each trimester]. Immunohistochemistry and western blotting were performed for identifying the expression of BRCA1 protein. RESULTS: The expression of BRCA1 were detected on all normal placentas. We could not find any remarkable difference of BRCA1 expression according to gestational age on normal placentas. In growth-restricted placenta, the staining intensity was diminished more than 30% and the number of stained cells were decreased more than 20% by immunohistochemistry, and BRCA1 protein expression was decreased about 30% on western blotting compared with normal placenta. CONCLUSION: These results revealed that the expression of BRCA1 gene is a constant finding irrespective of gestational ages and decreased in the placenta taken from growth restricted fetuses compared with normal fetuses. It suggests that BRCA1 may play a role in trophoblast differentiation and be related to the pathophysiologic mechanism of fetal growth restriction. |
| Key Words:
BRCA1, Fetal growth restriction, Placenta |
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