Placental expression of D6 decoy receptor in preeclampsia

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of the D6 decoy receptor that can bind chemokines and targetthem for degradation, resulting in inhibition of inflammation in placentas from preeclamptic and normal pregnancies. Methods The current study was carried out in 35 pregnant women (23 patients with preeclampsia and 12 healthy, normotensivepregnant women) during the third trimester of pregnancy. The expressions of D6 decoy receptor in the placenta weredetermined with real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. Results The mRNA and protein of D6 decoy receptor were detected in all of placentas from preeclamptic and normal pregnancies. Placental D6 decoy receptor mRNA expression was significantly lower in patients with preeclampsia than in patients withnormal pregnancies. Western blot analyses revealed decreased protein expression in cases of preeclampsia. Conclusion The expression of the D6 decoy receptor in preeclamptic placentas was significantly lower than in normal placentas. Furtherstudies are needed to clarify the underlying mechanisms that link decreased expression of placental D6 decoy receptor andpreeclampsia.