Objective: To study Edg4 and Edg7 expression in placenta of women with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy, and to investigate the relation between the expression of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) and hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.
Methods: Immunohistochemical SP method was used to measure the expressions of Edg4 and Edg7 in placenta of women with normal pregnancy, 20 women with gestational hypertension, 20 with mild preeclampsia, and with severe preeclampsia.
Results: (1) LOCATION: immunohistochemical staining for Edg4 and Edg7 protein were located at the membrane and endochylema of cytotrophoblast as well as decidua cells. (2) The positive expression of Edg4 protein and Edg7 protein on membrane and endochylema of cytotrophoblast was 25% and 20% (normal women), 60% and 40% (gestational hypertension), 80% and 65% (mild preeclampsia), and 83.3% and 86.7% (severe preeclampsia). The expression of Edg4 and Edg7 protein in mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia was significantly correlated with the degree of differentiation (P < 0.05). The expression of Edg4 and Edg7 protein showed an insignificant difference in normal pregnant women and gestational hypertension (P > 0.05). (3) The positive expression of Edg4 protein and Edg7 protein on membrane and endochylema of decidua was 20% and 25% (normal pregnancy), 55% and 50% (gestational hypertension), 70% and 55% (mild preeclampsia), and 83.3% and 73.3% (severe preeclampsia) respectively. The expression of Edg4 and Edg7 protein in mild preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia showed a significant correlation with the degree of differentiation (P < 0.05). The expression of Edg4 and Edg7 protein showed an insignificant difference in normal pregnancy and gestational hypertension (P > 0.05).
Conclusions: The high expression of Edg4 and Edg7 protein in the placentas of patients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy indicates that LPA combines with Edg4 and Edg7, inducing the occurrence of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy.