Isthmin 2 is decreased in preeclampsia and highly expressed in choriocarcinoma

Cynthia Martinez; Javier González-Ramírez; María E Marín; Gustavo Martínez-Coronilla; Vanessa I Meza-Reyna; Rafael Mora; Raul Díaz-Molina

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05096

Isthmin 2 is decreased in preeclampsia and highly expressed in choriocarcinoma

Heliyon. 2020 Oct 13;6(10):e05096. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05096. eCollection 2020 Oct.

Authors

Cynthia Martinez¹, Javier González-Ramírez², María E Marín³, Gustavo Martínez-Coronilla², Vanessa I Meza-Reyna⁴, Rafael Mora^{1

2

3

4}, Raul Díaz-Molina³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity and Children Hospital, Mexicali, B.C., 21376, Mexico.
² Faculty of Nursing, University Autonomous of Baja California, Mexicali, B.C., 21100, Mexico.
³ School of Medicine, University Autonomous of Baja California, Mexicali, B.C., 21000, Mexico.
⁴ Laboratory of Surgical Pathology and Cytodiagnosis, Mexicali, B.C., 21389, Mexico.

Abstract

Introduction: Isthmin 2 (ISM2) is a protein which expression in humans is almost specific to the placenta. There is no previous report in the literature that investigated this protein in preeclampsia or choriocarcinoma.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, cross-sectional study that included women with preeclampsia, gestational hypertension and normotensive pregnancy. We measured serum concentrations of ISM2 protein and performed immunohistochemistry in placenta tissues. We also performed immunohistochemistry of ISM2 in samples from choriocarcinoma and compare with lung, prostate, colon, gastric and breast cancers.

Results: A total of 81 patients were included, 30 with preeclampsia, 21 with gestational hypertension and 30 controls. The ISM2 protein was found to be decreased in patients with preeclampsia compared to the control group (P = 0.036). These results were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. We also found that ISM2 protein was overexpressed in choriocarcinoma.

Discussion: Taken together, our results suggest an angiogenic function for ISM2. Its serum level decreased in our patients with preeclampsia could be reflecting that it is involved in the pathogenesis of the disease; on the other hand its high expression in choriocarcinoma, indicates that ISM2 may play an active role in the angiogenesis of this and other cancers.

Keywords: Angiogenic protein; Biomarkers; Choriocarcinoma; Evidence-based medicine; ISM2; Laboratory medicine; Obstetrics and gynecology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Reproductive system.