Skip Navigation

This Article
Right arrow Full Text Freely available
Right arrow FREE Full Text (PDF) Freely available
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in ISI Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Maymon, R.
Right arrow Articles by Moroz, C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Maymon, R.
Right arrow Articles by Moroz, C.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

Molecular Human Reproduction, Vol. 8, No. 12, 1125-1128, December 2002
© 2002 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Molecular aspects of pregnancy

Enhanced expression of the immunoregulator, p43-placental isoferritin, in Down’s syndrome placentae and fetal kidneys

Ron Maymon1,2,3, Eric Jauniaux2 and Chaya Moroz1

1 Molecular Immunology Unit, Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Rabin Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel and 2 Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Royal Free and University College London Medical School, UK

Abstract

Human placental isoferritin is composed of a 43 kDa subunit and ferritin light chains. It acts as an immunosuppressive cytokine in normal gestation and in some malignant conditions. We investigated p43-placental isoferritin expression at the maternal fetal tissue interface and in fetal kidneys in Down’s syndrome (DS) compared with normal control samples. Following termination of mid-gestation pregnancies placental and fetal kidney tissue samples were collected. Immunohistochemical analysis of the specimens was performed using a monoclonal antibody generated against human p43-placental isoferritin protein (CM-H-9 mAb). Expression of p43-placental isoferritin was detected in Hofbauer cells and in the syncytial layer of placental tissue. Significantly higher numbers of positive Hofbauer cells were detected in DS placentae at 17 weeks gestation compared with the controls. The number of immunopositive Hofbauer cells decreased in DS placentae at 20 weeks gestation, 3 weeks later than in controls. In kidneys of fetuses at 17 weeks gestation, p43-placental isoferritin immunoreactivity was confined to the proximal tubules of the nephrons. DS kidneys had higher staining intensities compared with similar gestational age controls. Enhanced expression of p43-placental isoferritin was observed in DS placentae and fetal kidneys. This may explain the increased p43-placental isoferritin levels in the maternal serum of DS gestations.

Down’s syndrome/fetal kidneys/p43-isoferritin/placenta/PLIF

Notes

3 To whom correspondence should be addressed at Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Assaf Harofeh Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel. E-mail: intposgr{at}post.tau.ac.il


Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?




Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.