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Reduced angiogenic factor expression in intrauterine fetal growth restriction using semiquantitative immunohistochemistry and digital image analysis
Author(s) -
Alahakoon Thushari I.,
Zhang Weiyi,
Arbuckle Susan,
Zhang Kewei,
Lee Vincent
Publication year - 2018
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/jog.13592
Subject(s) - placental growth factor , medicine , intrauterine growth restriction , preeclampsia , immunohistochemistry , placenta , fetus , vascular endothelial growth factor , kinase insert domain receptor , andrology , pregnancy , obstetrics , endocrinology , vascular endothelial growth factor a , vegf receptors , biology , genetics
Aim To localize, quantify and compare angiogenic factors, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), as well as their receptors fms‐like tyrosine kinase receptor (Flt‐1) and kinase insert domain receptor (KDR) in the placentas of normal pregnancy and complications of preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine fetal growth restriction (IUGR) and PE + IUGR. Methods In a prospective cross‐sectional case–control study, 30 pregnant women between 24–40 weeks of gestation, were recruited into four clinical groups. Representative placental samples were stained for VEGF, PlGF, Flt‐1 and KDR. Analysis was performed using semiquantitative methods and digital image analysis. Results The overall VEGF and Flt‐1 were strongly expressed and did not show any conclusive difference in the expression between study groups. PlGF and KDR were significantly reduced in expression in the placentas from pregnancies complicated by IUGR compared with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. Conclusion The lack of PlGF and KDR may be a cause for the development of IUGR and may explain the loss of vasculature and villous architecture in IUGR. Automated digital image analysis software is a viable alternative method to the manual reading of placental immunohistochemical staining.