Medizinische Universität Graz Austria/Österreich - Forschungsportal - Medical University of Graz
Gewählte Publikation:
Nefischer, L.
The Role of PSG11 on Platelets during Pregnancy.
[ Diplomarbeit/Master Thesis (UNI) ] Universität Graz; 2024.
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- Autor*innen der Med Uni Graz:
- Betreuer*innen:
- Gauster Martin
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- Abstract:
- Pregnancy specific beta-1 glycoproteins (PSGs) are the most abundant trophoblast-derived proteins in the maternal blood stream during human pregnancy. Their expression is essential for a healthy placental and fetal development, as some studies indicate a crucial role of the PSGs in the regulation of the immune response, placental angiogenesis, and platelet activation. Proteomics data from preliminary experiments suggest that these pregnancy-specific glycoproteins accumulate in maternal platelets over the course of gestation. Therefore, the aim of this master thesis is to test whether PSG11 is selectively taken up by platelets and whether platelet priming is a crucial process during human pregnancy. Placental PSG11 from healthy first and third trimester as well as from preeclamptic tissue was characterized using immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and qPCR analysis. Platelets were isolated from whole blood samples either from healthy pregnant or non-pregnant women or male donors. Characterization of PSG11 in platelets was performed on protein level using immunocytochemistry, Western blot analysis and ELISA. Also, platelets from non-pregnant women were incubated with blood plasma of pregnant women in their third trimester of gestation, recombinant PSG11 or trophoblast-derived PSG11 and subsequently analyzed on protein level. Immunohistochemistry for PSG11 revealed positive signals in the villous syncytiotrophoblast of placental tissue from the first and third trimester of gestation as well as from preeclampsia patients. These results were verified on gene expression level via qPCR as well as on protein level via Western blot analysis. Our data showed an accumulation of PSG11 in platelets isolated from women in their third trimester of gestation compared to control groups, which were not pregnant. Furthermore, PSG11 was also detected in platelets from non-pregnant women after incubation with pregnant blood plasma. In conclusion, our data suggest that platelets sequester increased concentrations of PSG11 during human pregnancy, which leads us to speculate that platelet priming by placenta-derived factors is a common process.