Objective: Edema, proteinuria, hypertension (EPH) gestosis, also known as preeclampsia, is the most common, pregnancy-associated pathological syndrome. It is accompanied by a significant increase in collagen content in the umbilical cord arteries and early replacement of hyaluronic acid by sulfated glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) both in these arteries and in Wharton’s jelly. Such a remodelling of the umbilical cord tissues is accompanied by an increase in insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentration in the umbilical cord serum. Methods: Contact-inhibited human fibroblasts were incubated in Dulbecco culture medium containing control or EPH umbilical cord serum and supplemented with 14C-glucosamine or 35S-sulfate. Radioactive GAGs were isolated, submitted to electrophoretic fractionation and quantified. Results: The presence of umbilical cord serum in culture medium strongly stimulated the incorporation of 14C-glucosamine and 35S-sulfate into GAGs synthesized by these cells. EPH serum was much more active in stimulation of sulfated GAGs biosynthesis than control serum, whereas the biosynthesis of hyaluronic acid was stimulated by both sera to a similar degree. Conclusion: Since IGF-I is known as a stimulator of collagen and sulfated GAG biosynthesis, the high concentration of this growth factor in the umbilical cord plasma may be responsible for preeclampsia-associated remodeling of the umbilical cord.

Keywords:
IGF-I, Glycosaminoglycans, Fetus, Fibroblast, EPH gestosis, Preeclampsia
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© 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel
2001
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