[Expression of tight junction factors in human placental tissues derived from assisted reproductive technology and natural pregnancy].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of tight junction factors in human placental tissues derived from assisted reproductive technology (ART) and natural pregnancy and its role in placental barrier.

METHODS: Ten placental samples were collected from the women who had undergone ART treatment and 11 placenta were collected from control group. Transmission electron microscope (TEM) examination was utilized to detect the morphology of placental tight junctions. The mRNA of claudin (CLDN) 1, CLDN4, CLDN5, CLDN8, zonula occudens (ZO) 1 was detected by real-time PCR and the protein of CLDN4, CLDN8 and occludin (OCLN) were measured by western blot.

RESULTS: TEM microscopy results showed that placenta samples derived both ART and control placenta had normal microscopic histological features of tight junctions, localized in the apical part of the syncytium and also between the cell-cell contacts of fetal blood vessel endothelial. The expression level of CLDN4 mRNA were 0.87 ± 0.17 in ART group and 1.18 ± 0.30 in control group, respectively. The expression level of CLDN8 mRNA were 3.25 ± 2.32 in ART group and 1.08 ± 0.41 in control group, respectively. The mRNA level of CLDN4 and CLDN8 were significantly differentially expressed in ART derived placenta when compared with control groups. The expression level of CLDN1, CLDN5, OCLN and ZO1 mRNA were 0.49 ± 0.44, 0.80 ± 0.20, 0.92 ± 0.18 in ART group and 1.09 ± 0.82, 1.21 ± 0.78, 0.80 ± 0.27 in control group, respectively, in which there were no significant differences between two groups. Western Blot analysis showed the protein levels of tight junctions CLDN4, CLDN8 and OCLN did not differ between groups.

CONCLUSIONS: Tight junction factors were expressed in human placental tissues. Tight junction derived from ATR platenta might have mild dysfunction.