Az osteopontin csökkent kifejezodésének újabb bizonyítékai mola hydatidosában

Osteopontin (OPN) is a protein of the extracellular matrix, which plays a role in the tumorgenesis of several types of malignant tumors. In a collaborative study of Hungarian National Health Center in Budapest and the Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA, our workgroup has previously reported a comparison of OPN expression between normal human placenta and molar tissues. Using Laser Caption Microdissection, m-RNA extraction, real-time PCR and gel-electrophoresis methods, we have found a significant down-regulation of OPN m-RNA in hydatidiform mole. In this study we analyzed the OPN protein appearance in mole and normal trophoblast in order to confirm our previous findings. Immunohistochemical examinations were performed on 13 complete moles, 2 partial moles and 9 normal placentas from comparable gestational ages. Our results verified the definite down-regulation of OPN protein in mole. Although further examinations are required to identify the exact place of OPN in the biochemical background of molar pregnancies, our findings suggest that the lower expression of OPN may play an important role in the pathogenesis of gestational trophoblastic diseases.