Galectin 2 expression in placentas of pre-eclamptic patients

Introduction: Preeclampsia (PE), is well known as a pregnancy specific disorder associated with maternal inflammation and insufficient placentation. Galectin 2 (gal-2) has been shown to have important regulatory functions in monocyte and macrophage function as well as in angiogenesis.

Methods: Placental tissues were obtained from 14 women with regular pregnancies and 13 women with PE, with a mean date of delivery in the PE group of 34 ± 3.2 and in the control group 39 ± 1.4 weeks of gestation. The tissue samples were stained for immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence and analyzed using the IRS score to evaluate gal-2 expression in placental tissue.

Results: Down regulation of gal-2 protein expression in placental tissue from pre-eclamptic patients was shown using IRS scoring. It revealed a 1.3 -fold decrease in gal-2 staining intensity of extravillous cytotrophoblast cells (EVT) in cases of pre-eclampsia (2.8 ± 2.3) compared with control placentas (3.8 ± 1.6). Staining intensity of syncytiotrophoblast is 2.0-fold decreased in cases of pre-eclampsia (1.9 ± 2.3) compared with control placentas (3.8 ± 1.6).

Conclusion: As EVT and syncytiotrophoblast show both decreased expression of gal-2 in cases of PE compared to the control group it is unclear whether this lowered expression is causative for PE or a result of its pathophysiology. Further investigation is needed to fully understand the role of gal-2 concerning PE and other gestational diseases.