Reduced expression of COMT in placenta correlates with term preeclampsia ()
ABSTRACT
Objective: To
investigate the expression of catechol-O- methyltransferase (COMT) in
placentas from term preeclampsia patients in a Chinese cohort and to analyze
the relationships between COMT and mean artery pressure (MAP), serum uric acid
and 24-hour urine protein. Methods: 15 term pregnant patients with preeclampsia
and 15 normal pregnant women were enrolled. Clinical characteristics and
placental tissue were collected. Placental
COMT expression was determined by quantitative real-time PCR technique and immunohistochemistry. Results: The level of
COMT mRNA in placentas from the preeclampsia group was significantly
decreased than that in the normal pregnant women (0.00179 ± 0.00051 vs. 0.00289
± 0.00066, t = 5.145, P < 0.001). Adjusted by age and body
mass index (BMI), the COMT expression was negatively correlated with serum uric
acid (r = ?0.660, P < 0.001), 24-hour urine protein (r = ?0.717, P < 0.001) and MAP (r =
?0.619, P < 0.001). Conclusion: The
decreased expression of COMT in placentas from term preeclamptic patients and
the significant relation between COMT and severity index of preeclampsia
suggest that COMT may play a role in the pathogenesis of term preeclampsia.
Share and Cite:
Lai, B. , Wang, C. , Zhou, L. , Wang, J. and Wu, H. (2013) Reduced expression of COMT in placenta correlates with term preeclampsia.
Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology,
4, 44-49. doi:
10.4236/abb.2013.44A007.