Address for correspondence: Dr. Seth Guller, Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine, 333 Cedar Street, 339 FMB, P.O. Box 208063, New Haven, CT 06520-8063. Voice: +1-203-737-2532; fax: +1-203-737-2327. seth.guller{at}yale.edu
Preeclampsia is associated with an increased release of factors
from the placental syncytium into maternal blood, including
the antiangiogenic factors soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1
and soluable endoglin, the antifibrinolytic factor plasminogen
activator inhibitor-1, prostanoids, lipoperoxides, cytokines,
and microparticles. These factors are suggested to promote maternal
endothelium dysfunction and are associated with placental damage
in pregnancies also complicated with intrauterine growth restriction
(IUGR). In this report, we briefly describe the interaction
of syncytial factors with hypoxia, reactive oxygen species,
and apoptosis in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia and IUGR.
Given the critical role of the syncytium in these complications
of pregnancy, we also present a novel methodology in which laser
capture microdissection followed by Western blotting is used
to assess levels of syncytial Fas ligand, a key protein in the
apoptotic cascade.
