Expression of DJ-1 proteins in placentas from women with severe preeclampsia

Objective: Lately, DJ-1 has been identified as a novel mediator of hypoxia-induced cellular responses. The aim of this study was to determine the difference of DJ-1 expression in the placentas of women with normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. Study design: DJ-1 mRNA expression was quantified by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Also, immnoperoxidase and immunofluorescent staining for DJ-1 was performed on 11 normal and 12 preeclamptic placental tissues. Results: The expression of mRNA of DJ-1 was significantly higher in the study group than in the control group. The immunoreactivity was especially higher in the syncytiotrophoblast of preeclamptic placentas compared to the control group. Conclusion: Overexpression of the DJ-1 protein in the placentas of severe PE patients is thought to be a causative or compensatory mechanism in response to hypoxia, and this finding might contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.