The regulation and localization of angiopoietin-1, -2, and their receptor Tie2 in normal and pathologic human placentae

Angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and its antagonist angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) act on the endothelial cell Tie-2 receptor to regulate vascular integrity and remodeling. The local balance of these factors and the level of other angiogenic factors determine whether blood vessels grow, are maintained or regress. Profound angiogenesis and vascular remodeling occur in the placenta and this is altered in preeclampsia, a major cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality.

The mRNAs encoding Ang-1, Ang-2, and Tie-2 were detected and localized in human placentae throughout gestation. The mechanism of regulation angiopoietin mRNAs level was determined by explant culture in ambient and reduced oxygen, and in the presence of actinomycin D.

In situ hybridization showed that Ang-2 mRNA was abundant in the syncytiotrophoblast in the first trimester of human pregnancy. Ang-1 mRNA could not be detected by in situ hybridization, but was by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Northern blotting. Placental vascular structure is altered in preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, conditions where feto-placental oxygenation is perturbed. In villous explant cultures, a reduction in oxygen tension significantly raised the levels of Ang-2 mRNA, and this was dependent on transcription. However, similar experiments showed that the stability of the Ang-1 message was greatly reduced under these conditions. Thus, hypoxia has opposite effects on Ang-1 and Ang-2 mRNA levels. Placentae obtained from women with preeclampsia had reduced levels of Ang-2 mRNA compared to gestationally matched controls. There was no difference in the levels of Ang-1 mRNAs.

These data show that the relative levels of Ang-1 and Ang-2 mRNA are regulated by local oxygen tension by different mechanisms and that this may be important during normal human placentation.