Endoplasmic reticulum stress is induced in the human placenta during labour

Placenta. 2015 Jan;36(1):88-92. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2014.11.005. Epub 2014 Nov 15.

Abstract

Placental endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been postulated in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), but its activation remains elusive. Oxidative stress induced by ischaemia/hypoxia-reoxygenation activates ER stress in vitro. Here, we explored whether exposure to labour represents an in vivo model for the study of acute placental ER stress. ER stress markers, GRP78, P-eIF2α and XBP-1, were significantly higher in laboured placentas than in Caesarean-delivered controls localised mainly in the syncytiotrophoblast. The similarities to changes observed in PE/IUGR placentas suggest exposure to labour can be used to investigate induction of ER stress in pathological placentas.

Keywords: Endoplasmic reticulum stress; Labour; Placenta.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cesarean Section
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress / physiology*
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2 / metabolism
  • Female
  • Heat-Shock Proteins / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Labor, Obstetric / metabolism*
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • Parturition / metabolism*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Placenta / metabolism*
  • Pregnancy
  • Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • X-Box Binding Protein 1

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Endoplasmic Reticulum Chaperone BiP
  • Eukaryotic Initiation Factor-2
  • HSPA5 protein, human
  • Heat-Shock Proteins
  • Regulatory Factor X Transcription Factors
  • Transcription Factors
  • X-Box Binding Protein 1
  • XBP1 protein, human