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Basic Science

Poster Session 4

(1024) Pigment epithelium derived-factor (PEDF), a potent anti-angiogenic protein, is elevated in fetal growth restriction

Wednesday, February 14, 2024
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM  
Location: Prince George's Exhibit Hall CDE, Lower Atrium Level
Objective: To examine pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) expression in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR). PEDF is a pleiotropic protein with anti-angiogenic and anti-oxidative properties, known to negate vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and regulate trophoblast function under hypoxia. 

Study Design: Maternal sera, cord blood and placentas from pregnancies complicated by FGR (n=12) and normal controls (n=18) were obtained following deliveries. Changes in PEDF, PEDF receptors and VEGF mRNAs, were quantified using qPCR. Sera levels of PEDF and VEGF were quantified using ELISA and compared to clinical parameters such as birth-weight percentile and doppler measurements of fetal umbilical and middle cerebral arteries.

Results: VEGF and PEDF mRNA level were significantly elevated (p=0.016; p=0.009) in placentas from FGR pregnancies compared to controls. PEDF receptors showed differential expression in FGR placentas; LRP6, was upregulated (p=0.046) and Laminin receptor was downregulated (p< 0.0001). PEDF was also elevated in cord blood of FGR pregnancies compared to normal pregnancies (p=0.02) while VEGF displayed low concentrations in maternal sera (p=0.0001) and a wide range in cord blood with no significant difference between FGR and controls. Due to the small sample size, no significant correlation was found when comparing clinical parameters to PEDF protein level in cord blood of FGR pregnancies. Data was analyzed by one-way ANOVA with FDR correction.

Conclusion:

Elevated level of PEDF in cord blood and placentas from FGR pregnancies may represent trophoblast response to chronic hypoxic stress in the fetal-placental interphase.