Effects of increased fetuin-A in human trophoblast cells and associated pregnancy outcomes
Luis M Gomez1, Lauren Anton, Sindhu K Srinivas
1Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to determine whether fetuin-A affects trophoblast viability and invasion, whether growth factors that bind receptors that activate tyrosine kinase are impaired by fetuin-A, and whether elevated maternal serum fetuin-A levels are associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Study Design:
We studied viability and invasion in first-trimester extravillous trophoblast cells that were exposed to fetuin-A, insulin-like growth factor, and placental growth factor. Insulin receptor substrates expression was assessed. We compared serum fetuin-A levels in 111 preeclampsia cases and 95 controls.
Results:
Fetuin-A reduced extravillous trophoblast cell viability and invasion in the presence or absence of growth factors. Fetuin-A reduced insulin receptor substrate-1 and tyrosine phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 expression in extravillous trophoblast cells that had been treated with insulin-like growth factor. Elevated serum fetuin-A levels were more prevalent in preeclampsia cases than control subjects, even after we controlled for diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and obesity.
Conclusion:
Fetuin-A may decrease trophoblast viability and invasion caused by the inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinase activity. Elevated serum levels of fetuin-A may be associated with preeclampsia.
