Altered gene expression patterns in intrauterine growth restriction: Potential role of hypoxia

Objective Placental insufficiency is a primary cause of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). In our study, microarray technology was used to identify genes, which may impair placentation resulting in IUGR. Study design The RNA was isolated from both IUGR term placentas and normal term placentas. Microarray experiments were used to identify differentially expressed genes between the 2 cohorts. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used in follow-up experiments. Results Microarray experiments identified increased expression of certain genes including leptin, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor, human chorionic gonadotropin, follistatin-like 3, and hypoxia-inducible factor 2α in the IUGR. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction confirmed these results. Conclusion The upregulation of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor and hypoxia-inducible factor 2α at this period in pregnancy indicate that placental angiogenesis is altered in IUGR and that hypoxia is a major contributor to maldevelopment of the placental vasculature.