Increased leptin expression in placenta from pathological pregnancies

ANTONIO PÉREZ-PÉREZ; YESICA GAMBINO; JULIETA MAYMÓ; JOSÉ LUIS DUEÑAS; RAIMUNDO GOBERNA.; CECILIA LAURA VARONE; VICTOR SÁNCHEZ MARGALET

Chicago, U.S.A

Congreso; American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC).; 2009

American Association of Clinical Chemistry (AACC).

Objectives: Leptin is a regulatory hormone in many cellular systems, including trophoblastic cells, where it is produced and may function as a trophic factor. In the present work we aimed to study the expression level of leptin in pathological pregnancy (gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia) compared with control placenta from normal pregnancies.Materials and Methods: We have studied trophoblastic samples from placenta obtained from donors after full-term delivery. 8 control placenta from normal pregnancies, 6 placenta from gestational diabetes, and 5 placenta from pre-eclampsia were studied. Leptin expression level was determined by real time PCR and the protein level by immunoblot. Student´s t test was employed to assess statistical differences.Results: We have found that every placenta from pathological pregnancy have increased expression level of leptin, compared with control placenta from normal pregnancy. Both placenta from gestational diabetes and preeclampsia expressed in average twice as much leptin levels than control placenta, significant differences (p<0.001) between placenta from pathological pregnancy and control placenta were found.Conclusions: Pathological pregnancy (gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia) produces an increase in the leptin expression in trophoblast, and leptin may be a useful marker in the diagnosis and follow-up of these pathological pregnancies.