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ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Expression of Autotaxin, an Ectoenzyme that Produces Lysophosphatidic Acid, in Human Placenta
Author(s) -
Iwasawa Yuki,
Fujii Tomoyuki,
Nagamatsu Takeshi,
Kawana Kei,
Okudaira Shinichi,
Miura Shiho,
Matsumoto Junko,
Tomio Ayako,
Hyodo Hironobu,
Yamashita Takahiro,
Oda Katsutoshi,
Kozuma Shiro,
Aoki Junken,
Yatomi Yutaka,
Taketani Yuji
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0897.2009.00715.x
Subject(s) - lysophosphatidic acid , autotaxin , placenta , immunohistochemistry , endocrinology , medicine , trophoblast , biology , pregnancy , messenger rna , andrology , fetus , receptor , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Problem Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid mediator and thought to play an important role in pregnancy. Plasma LPA is produced by autotaxin (ATX), and ATX activity in plasma increases during pregnancy paralleled with gestational weeks and decreases to near the non‐pregnant level soon after delivery. However, the source of increased ATX during pregnancy is still uncertain. We hypothesized that the source of increased ATX might be placenta. Method of study We investigated the protein and mRNA expression of ATX in human placenta using immunohistochemistry and RT‐PCR, respectively. Results At all 3 gestational trimesters, immunohistochemical staining for placenta tissues revealed the most marked positive staining of ATX protein in trophoblasts. Real‐time PCR revealed that mRNA amounts of ATX in placenta tissues paralleled with gestational weeks, i.e. ATX level in plasma. Conclusion These findings suggest that trophoblasts might produce ATX and its bioactive resultant substance, LPA, paralleled with gestational weeks.