Objective: To investigate the expression of 52-kDa FK506-binding protein (FKBP52) in human placentas complicated by preeclampsia (PE) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).
Study design: Case-control study including placentas from 6 PE pregnancies, 6 IUGR pregnancies, and 6 controls. FKBP52 expression was determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blot techniques.
Results: FKBP52 expression was downregulated in PE group placentas compared to control and IUGR group placentas. In IUGR group placentas FKBP52 expression was upregulated compared to control and PE group placentas. FKBP52 expression differences between PE and IUGR group placentas (p = 0.008) and control and IUGR group placentas (p = 0.042) were statistically significant. There was FKBP52 immunoreactivity in decidua, syncytiotrophoblast, villous stromal cells, and vascular endothelium in all groups. Unlike control and PE group placentas, FKBP52 expression was continuous in syncytiotrophoblast of IUGR group placentas.
Conclusion: FKBP52 seems to be disrupted in PE and IUGR pregnancies. Decrease of FKBP52 protein levels in PE and increase in IUGR group placentas might have an importance and be involved in the pathogenesis of PE and IUGR.