Background: Preeclampsia is associated with inadequate invasion of trophocytes and spiral artery remodeling. As a β-D-glucuronidase enzyme, Heparanase is related to tumor angiogenesis, development and invasion. Trophocytes have similar characteristics to tumor cells, and heparanase could therefore play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Methods: The expression of heparanase in severe preeclampsia and normal placentas was detected via real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry and western blotting. The effects of heparanase on trophocytes migration and invasion were investigated by culturing the HTR-8/Svneo cell line with recombinant human heparanase protein in vitro.
Results: The levels of inactive 65-kDa heterologous heparanase dimers were obviously increased, and the content of the 50-kDa active polypeptide was decreased in severe preeclampsia. Furthermore, exogenous heparanase protein could reduce the migration and invasion of HTR-8/Svneo cells.
Conclusion: Our results suggested that heparanase might be an important factor in the pathogenesis of severe preeclampsia.
Keywords: Preeclampsia; heparanase; invasion; trophocyte.