[Expression of Apelin in placentas of patients with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy]

To investigate the expression of Apelin in placenta tissue from women with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy.

Thirty six women with hypertensive disorders complicating pregnancy (HDCP) and 15 normal pregnant women were studied. The expression of Apelin-36 was analyzed semi-quantitatively using immunohisto-chemistry and image analysis in placenta tissue and the levels of Apelin mRNA expression were determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR method.

The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in placenta from normal pregnant women were 0.27 +/- 0.04 and 0.82 +/- 0.25, respectively. The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in placenta from HDCP women were 0.18 +/- 0.05 and 0.31 +/- 0.21; in gestational hypertensive women, the values were 0.24 +/- 0.02 and 0.59 +/- 0.16; in mild preeclampsia were 0.16 +/- 0.03 and 0.25 +/- 0.07, and in severe preeclampsia they were 0.14 +/- 0.02 and 0.17 +/- 0.09, respectively. The levels of Apelin-36 and Apelin mRNA in HDCP were lower than those in normal pregnant women (P < 0.01, P < 0.01), and they were decreased gradually with a significant difference between gestational hypertension, mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia (P < 0.01) and between mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia (P < 0.05).

The abnormal expressions of Apelin in placenta may be related to pathogenesis of HDCP.