Placental Nkx2-5 and target gene expression in early-onset and severe preeclampsia.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Preeclampsia (PE) affects 2-8% of pregnancies worldwide and is a significant source of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. However, the mechanisms underlying PE are poorly understood and major questions regarding etiology and risk factors remain to be addressed. Our objective was to examine whether abnormal expression of the cardiovascular developmental transcription factor, Nkx2-5, was associated with early onset and severe preeclampsia (EOSPE).

Methods

Using qPCR and immunohistochemical assay, we examined expression of Nkx2-5 and target gene expression in EOSPE and control placental tissue. We tested resulting mechanistic hypotheses in cultured cells using shRNA knockdown, qPCR, and western blot.

Results

Nkx2-5 is highly expressed in racially di

SUBMITTER: Rivers ER 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4192008 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature