Expression and significance of placenta growth factor and its receptor in placenta for patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy.

Objective: To find out the expression and significance of placenta growth factor(PLGF) and its receptor(Flt-1) in placenta for patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy(ICP).Methods: The expression of PLGF and its receptor in placentas from 30 ICP patients(ICP group),placentas from 30 normal third trimester pregnant women(normal group) and fetal villi from 8 first trimester pregnant women were detected by immunohistochemistry.The placental vascular density of ICP group and normal group was also determined by immunohistochemical FⅧ RA staining.Results: PLGF and its receptor Flt-1 mainly distribute in trophocytes in the fetal villi of first trimester.The distribution of which in placenta was found in villous trophoblast,placental blood vessels and villous stroma in ICP group and normal group.But both the level of PLGF and its receptor Flt-1 and the placental vascular densities were significantly lower in ICP group than that in normal group(P 0.01).Furthermore,there was positive correlation between the expression of PLGF and the count of vessels in placentas.Conclusion: The lower expression of PLGF and its receptor Flt-1 in placenta from ICP patients is related to the abnormal invasions of trophoblast,the inadequate blood vessel formation and the decrease of placental vascular density,which could lead to fetal unhealthy pregnancy outcome.