Expression And Clinical Significance Of Constitutive Androstane Receptor In Placenta Syncytiotrophoblast Of Intrahepatic Cholestasis Of Pregnancy

Objective: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of constitutive androstane receptor gene in the syntrophoblast of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).Methods: Thirty cases of pregnant women (deliveried their baby from April , 2009 to March, 2010 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University) involved in this study were divided into three groups, including mild ICP group (10 cases), severe ICP group (10 cases) and control group (10 cases of health pregnant women).CAR expression were examined by Immunohistochemistry (SABc), Real-time PCR and Western blot in this study.Results: (1)CAR expression was detected in trophoblast cytoplasm by immunohistochemistry in these three groups, while it was showed brown orange stained on the nucleous in severe ICP group. (2)The expression values of CAR mRNA in control group, mild ICP group and severe ICP group were 0.06±0.02, 0.07±0.02 and 0.56±0.02, respectively. The expression of CAR mRNA in severe ICP group was significantly higher than mild ICP group and control (p<0.05). There were no significant difference between mild ICP group and control(p>0.05).(3)The expression values of CAR protein in placenta on control group, mild ICP group and severe ICP group were 0.74±0.03, 0.79±0.02 and 1.02±0.04, respectively. The expression of CAR protein in severe ICP group was significantly higher than mild ICP group and control (p<0.05). There were no significance between mild ICP group and control (p>0.05).Conclusion : In ICP pregnant women ,especially severe ICP patients CAR expression level of placenta syncytiotrophoblastic cells increase appreciably, which may involve in sticking up for placenta barrier function and offer protection in ICP.