European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 134, Issue 1 , Pages 51-56, September 2007

Pre-eclampsia-associated alterations in decorin, biglycan and versican of the umbilical cord vein wall

  • Tomasz Gogiel

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Academy of Białystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2, 15-089 Białystok-1, Poland
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Tel.: +48 85 748 55 79; fax: +48 85 748 54 16.
    • ,
  • Zofia Galewska

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Academy of Białystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2, 15-089 Białystok-1, Poland
    • ,
  • Lech Romanowicz

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Academy of Białystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2, 15-089 Białystok-1, Poland
    • ,
  • Stefan Jaworski

      Affiliations

    • Department of Gynaecology, Medical Academy of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
    • ,
  • Edward Bańkowski

      Affiliations

    • Department of Medical Biochemistry, Medical Academy of Białystok, ul. Mickiewicza 2, 15-089 Białystok-1, Poland

Received 10 April 2006; received in revised form 30 August 2006; accepted 5 October 2006. published online 07 November 2006.

Abstract 

Objective

The role of proteoglycans in the rearrangement of the extracellular matrix of the umbilical cord vein wall in pre-eclampsia is not known. Decorin, biglycan and versican are the main proteoglycans of the umbilical cord vein wall. We decided to test whether the amounts of these proteoglycans alter in pre-eclampsia.

Study design

Study was performed on the umbilical cord veins taken from 10 newborns delivered by healthy mothers (control group) and from 10 newborns delivered by mothers with pre-eclampsia. Proteoglycans were extracted in dissociative conditions, purified by Q-Sepharose anion exchange chromatography and lyophilised. Decorin, biglycan and versican were analysed by SDS-PAGE followed by Western blotting before and after treatment with chondroitinase ABC. The amounts of decorin, biglycan and versican core proteins were assessed by ELISA method.

Results

We found that both control and pre-eclamptic umbilical cord vein wall contained all the three proteoglycans. ELISA assay showed the amounts of the core proteins of decorin, biglycan and versican were distinctly higher in pre-eclamptic material in comparison to control vessel. Western blotting confirmed that the expression of all these proteoglycan core proteins increased in pre-eclampsia. They featured in the same electrophoretic mobility—45 and 47kDa for decorin, 45kDa for biglycan, and 300 and 320kDa for versican.

Conclusion

The content of decorin, biglycan and versican in the umbilical cord vein wall is elevated in pre-eclampsia in comparison to the corresponding control vessel. These alterations may affect the mechanical properties of this vessel and disturb foetal blood circulation.

Abbreviations: CS, chondroitin sulphate, DS, dermatan sulphate, GAG, glycosaminoglycan, PE, pre-eclampsia, PG, proteoglycan, UCA, umbilical cord artery, UCV, umbilical cord vein

Keywords: Pre-eclampsia, Pregnancy, Proteoglycans, Umbilical cord, Vein

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PII: S0301-2115(06)00521-5

doi:10.1016/j.ejogrb.2006.10.003

European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology
Volume 134, Issue 1 , Pages 51-56, September 2007

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