Increased placental sFlt-1 but unchanged PlGF expression in late-onset preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether differences between late-onset preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) can be explained by differential placental expression patters of sFlt-1, Flt-1, and placental growth factor (PlGF). METHODS: Placental tissues and maternal blood samples from seven patients with PE, five IUGR, and seven age-matched controls were studied for mRNA and protein levels as well as protein localization and expression intensity. RESULTS: Placental PlGF mRNA and protein expression were not altered by placental dysfunction while placental villous trophoblast expression intensity of PlGF was increased. CONCLUSION: High sFlt-1 concentrations may account for diminished maternal serum PlGF levels.