Molecular Expression of NHE-3 in Human Preeclamptic Placentas

DIETRICH VALERIA; RECA ALEJANDRA; CASTRO-PARODI MAURICIO; MASKIN BERNARDO; DAMIANO ALICIA E

Adelaida, Australia

Congreso; International Federation of Placental Associations Meeting 2009; 2009

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF PLACENTA ASSOCIATIONS

The exchange barrier between maternal and fetal circulation in the human placenta consists, essentially, of two cellular layers, the syncytiotrophoblast (hST), and the fetal capillary endothelium. The hST, a multinucleated true syncytium, is the transporting epithelium of the placenta. Transport activity of the hST is essential for a supply of a range of solutes required for fetal growth, as well as homeostasisof the cell itself.The sodium hydrogen exchanger isoform 3 (NHE-3) plays an important role in electrolyte and water homeostasis. These functions are compromised in pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia. At present it is not known whether NHE-3 expression is altered during preeclampsia. We investigated the molecular expression of the NHE-3 in hST term placentas obtained from uncomplicated and preeclamptic pregnancies. RT-PCR and Western blot assays showed that the expression of NHE-3 was significantly reduced in hST from preeclamptic placentas. In normal placentas NHE-3 was localized in the apical and basal membranes and in the cytoplasm. However, in preeclamptic placentas NHE-3 was almost undetectable. Further studies are needed to determine whether the diminished expression of NHE-3 in preeclamptic placentas may compromise placental function and may contribute to the development of this syndrome.