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Published on: March 29, 2018
Placental expression of AChE, α7nAChR and NF-κB in patients with preeclampsia
Linmei Zheng, Lei Shi1, Zhongyi Zhou
1Department of General Surgery, Hainan Provincial People's Hospital, HuaXiu Road, Haikou, Hainan, 570100 Haikou, Hainan, China. 371364902@qq.com.
Objectives:
This study aimed to investigate placental expression of AChE, α7nAChR and NF-κB in patients with preeclampsia and discuss about its clinical significance.
Material And Methods:
mRNA expression levels of acetylcholine (AChE), alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) and nuclear factor-kB (NF-κB) in placenta were detected by qRT-PCR, and protein levels were determined by immunohis-tological analysis and Western Blot in 35 women with preeclampsia (including 20 cases of mild preeclampsia and 15 cases of severe preeclampsia) and 30 cases in control group, respectively.
Results:
The expression of AChE mRNA and protein in placenta increased significantly in patients with preeclampsia compared with the control group (p < 0.01). It was lower in patients with severe preeclampsia than in patients with mild preeclampsia (p < 0.05). The expression of α7nAChR mRNA and protein in placenta decreased significantly in patients with preeclampsia compared with the control group (p < 0.01). However, the expression of α7nAChR mRNA and protein in patients with severe preeclampsia was higher than that in patients with mild preeclampsia, without significant difference(p > 0.05). The expression of NF-κB protein in placenta decreased significantly in patients with preeclampsia compared with the control group(p < 0.01). It was higher in patients with severe preeclampsia than in patients with mild preeclampsia (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference between preeclampsia group and control group in the expression of NF-κB mRNA in placenta (p > 0.05). The results of Western blotting assay were consistent with those of immunohistochemistry.
Conclusions:
Abnormal expression of AChE, α7nAChR and NF-κB in placenta may be associated with preeclampsia. Cho-linergic anti-inflammatory pathway may play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
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