Expression Of Nuclear Factor Kappa B And Cell Adhesion Molecules In The Placenta Of Patients With Pregnancy Induced Hypertension

Objective To investigate the significance of nuclear factor kappa B and cell adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of pregnancy induced hypertension syndrome(PIH), and the relationship between them.Methods The placenta samples were collected from 50 patients with PIH(14 in mild PIH,16 in moderate and 20 in severe PIH), and 30 normal pregnant women., streptavidin -biotin peroxidase (SP) and strept-avidin biotin complex(SABC) method of the immunohistochemistry were employed to detect the expression of nuclear factor-kappaBp65( NF-KBp65), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-I)and vascular cell ashesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) in placental villi.Results (1) In placentas of patients with PIH, The expression of NF-kBp65, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in vascular endothelial cell of villous capillary vessels was much more prominent than that in normal pregnant women (P<0.01). Within the group of PIH, the positive expression of them extremely increased with PIH advanced. There is no difference between the expression level of NF-kBp65, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in mild PIH and the normal pregnancy. (2) The expression of NF-kBp65 in endothelial cells was significantly correlated with that of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (r=0.714, 0.628; P<0.01). There was significant correlation between the expression of ICAM-1 and that of VCAM-1 (r=0.491, P<0.01). (3) In placentas of patients with PIH, the expression of NF-kBp65 and ICAM-1, VCAM-1 in syncytiotrophoblast was significantly higher than those in normal placentas(P<0.01). However, there was significantly low expression of VCAM-1 in syncytio- trophoblast in placentas of patients with PIH and the positive expression extremely decreased with PIH advanced in PIH group. (4) The expression level of NF-kBp65 and ICAM-1 in trophoblast cells was significantly correlated (r=0.729, P<0.001 ) , but there was no relationship between the expression of NF-kBp65 andVCAM-1 (r=-0.136, P>0.05), so as between ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 (r=-0.207, P>0.05). Conclusions In placenta of PIH, the expression of NF-kBp65 was higher, and increased with PIH advanced. ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 involve in the process of activation and damage of vascular endothelium in PIH. The high expression of ICAM-1 in trophoblast may participate in the pathogenesis of PIH; and the low expression of VCAM-1 might play an important role in superficial implantation of PIH. The NF-kB activation enhanced the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1, which may participate in the occurrence and development of PIH.