Prototype and Chimera-Type Galectins in Placentas with Spontaneous and Recurrent Miscarriages |
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Authors: | Laura Unverdorben Thomas Haufe Laura Santoso Simone Hofmann Udo Jeschke Stefan Hutter |
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Affiliation: | Ludwig Maximilians Universität München, Frauenklinik Campus Innenstadt, Maistrasse 11, 80337 München, Germany; (L.U.); (T.H.); (L.S.); (S.Ho.); (S.Hu.) |
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Abstract: | Galectins are galactose binding proteins and, in addition, factors for a wide range of pathologies in pregnancy. We have analyzed the expression of prototype (gal-1, -2, -7, -10) and chimera-type (gal-3) galectins in the placenta in cases of spontaneous abortions (SPA) and recurrent abortions (RA) in the first trimester. Fifteen placental samples from healthy pregnancies were used as a control group. Nine placentas were examined for spontaneous abortions, and 12 placentas for recurrent abortions. For differentiation and evaluation of different cell types of galectin-expression in the decidua, immunofluorescence was used. For all investigated prototype galectins (gal-1, -2, -7, -10) in SPA and RA placenta trophoblast cells the expression is significantly decreased. In the decidua/extravillous trophoblast only gal-2 expression was significantly lowered, which could be connected to its role in angiogenesis. In trophoblasts in first-trimester placentas and in cases of SPA and RA, prototype galectins are altered in the same way. We suspect prototype galectins have a similar function in placental tissue because of their common biochemical structure. Expression of galectin 3 as a chimera type galectin was not found to be significantly altered in abortive placentas. |
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Keywords: | galectins placenta trophoblast decidua spontaneous and recurrent miscarriage |
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