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Apoptosis in maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy
A Kolialexi1, G T Tsangaris, A Antsaklis
1Genetic Unit, 1st Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Athens, Greece.
Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy
|December 23, 2000
Summary
Pregnancy stimulates mononuclear cell apoptosis, which increases with gestational age. Higher apoptosis rates in pregnancies with abnormal fetuses may offer clinical insights.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, plays a crucial role in development and tissue homeostasis.
- Understanding cellular changes during pregnancy is vital for maternal and fetal health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the rate of mononuclear cell apoptosis throughout pregnancy.
- To compare apoptosis rates between normal and chromosomally abnormal pregnancies.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of apoptosis using Ethidium Bromide (EtBr) staining in peripheral blood.
- Qualitative assessment of apoptosis via Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay.
- Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to identify fetal cell origin in apoptotic populations.
Main Results:
- Mononuclear cell apoptosis rate significantly increased with advancing gestational age.
- Apoptosis was 2.5-fold higher in pregnancies with chromosomally abnormal fetuses compared to normal pregnancies.
- FISH analysis confirmed the fetal origin of a portion of the apoptotic cells.
Conclusions:
- Apoptosis is upregulated in maternal peripheral blood during pregnancy, potentially contributing to cell-free fetal DNA.
- Elevated apoptosis in pregnancies with fetal chromosomal abnormalities warrants further clinical investigation.