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An Immunohistochemical Study of Cadherin 5 (VE‐cadherin) in Vascular Endothelial Cells in Placentas with Gestosis
Author(s) -
Kawashima Masanari,
Kitagawa Michihiro
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
journal of obstetrics and gynaecology research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.597
H-Index - 50
eISSN - 1447-0756
pISSN - 1341-8076
DOI - 10.1111/j.1447-0756.1998.tb00112.x
Subject(s) - cadherin , medicine , ve cadherin , immunohistochemistry , obstetrics , pathology , biology , cell , genetics
Objective: To evaluate vascular endothelial‐cell functioning in placentas with gestosis, using the monoclonal antibody to cadherin 5. Methods: The extra‐cellular moiety of cadherin 5 was transfected into L‐cells to enable us to examine their cell‐adhesion activity. The expression of cadherin 5 was evaluated in human umbilical‐vein endothelial cells and in placentas with gestosis by immunostaining using the anti‐cadherin 5 antibody. A microspectrophotometric study also was conducted of the placentas with gestosis. Results: We determined the total base sequence for cadherin 5 and found that it is homologus with a known cadherin but is a new, unique clone. Cadherin 5 has cell‐adhesion activity and is expressed in endothelial cells at the cell‐adhesion surface. The expression of cadherin 5 in endothelial cells took place in the placentas with gestosis, but to a lesser extent than in normal placental endothelial cells. Conclusions: The reduced expression of cadherin 5 in placentas with gestosis suggests that endothelial cell functioning is impaired in placentas with gestosis. Cadherin 5 in endothelial cells might influence placental functions and fetal development.