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Q&A

Basic Science

Poster Session 2

(476) Expression and distribution of Src kinase LYN in placenta of patients with preeclampsia (PE)

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

3:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Location: Prince George's Exhibit Hall CDE, Lower Atrium Level

Primary & Presenting Author(s)

Taryn Heyman, MD

Fellow
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL, United States

Coauthor(s)

William E. Ackerman, IV, MD

Research Associate Professor
University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine
Chicago, IL, United States
GZ

Guomao Zhao, BS

Laboratory Manager, Perinatal Research
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL, United States
BM

Bani Medegan Fagla, BS

Medical Student
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL, United States
Catalin S. Buhimschi, MBA, MD

Professor and Division Director Maternal Fetal Medicine
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL, United States
IB

Irina A. Buhimschi, MD

Professor and Director, Perinatal Research
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, IL, United States

Objective: The Src family of tyrosine kinases (SFK) plays key roles in cell migration, growth, and division. Among the 8 SFK members, some are ubiquitous (SRC, YES, FYN), while others are considered tissue specific (BLK, FGR, HCK, LCK, LYN). Cancer biology and immunology have been the primary focus of SFK research thus far. As SFK-regulated processes are also important for pregnancy, we set out to determine the relative expression of SFK members in placenta to explore their potential role in PE.

Study Design: RNAseq was performed on placental villous samples in two groups: PE (n=15, GA 30±1w) and normotensive controls (n=15, GA 33±1w). An external RNAseq dataset (GSE114691) (n=79), and RNA from villous placenta tissues from preterm PE with severe features (n=9, GA 29±1w) or spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB, n=14, GA 29±1w) were used for database and qPCR validation, respectively. Placental immunohistochemistry (IHC) was performed using an anti-LYN monoclonal antibody. Protein-Protein Interaction networks (PPI) curated using STRING and PINOT databases provided insight into processes correlated with placental LYN expression. Non-parametric statistics and linear regression were used.

Results: LYN was the only SFK elevated in PE placenta compared to controls, both in our RNAseq data (1.8-fold, FDR< 0.005, Fig. A) and the external dataset (FDR< 0.005, Fig. B). LYN mRNA correlated positively with maternal systolic blood pressure (r=0.63, p< 0.001). LYN upregulation in PE placenta was confirmed by qPCR (p< 0.0001, Fig. C) independent of GA, birthweight, fetal sex or delivery mode. Placental LYN expression was more conspicuous in PE, localizing primarily to syncytiotrophoblast outer basal membrane and Hofbauer cells (Fig. D, arrows). PPI data mining identified the hypoxia-regulated endoplasmic reticulum oxido-reductase ERO-1A as the top LYN correlated transcript (r=0.85, p< 10^-7).

Conclusion: We demonstrate for the first time that LYN mRNA and protein expression are upregulated in PE. Correlation to LYN mRNA and maternal blood pressure further support a role for this Src kinase in the pathophysiology in PE.