Functional changes during differentiation of trophoblast cells and their contribution to the development of preeclampsia

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K18689
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 56040:Obstetrics and gynecology-related
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: FUJII TATSUYA 東京大学, 医学部附属病院, 助教 (00838500)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 妊娠高血圧腎症 / スタチン / 低酸素 / 血管新生因子

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In order to establish a new therapeutic agent for preeclampsia, we studied the effects of statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) on the functions of trophoblast cells especially on the expression of angiogenic factors. Administration of a fat-soluble statin to syncytiotrophoblast differentiated from late gestation-derived cytotrophoblast resulted in increased production of PlGF and decreased concentration of sFLT-1 under hypoxia. The results of these studies suggest that lipid-soluble statins may represent a new therapeutic option for preeclampsia.

Free Research Field

生殖発達加齢医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

妊娠高血圧腎症の根本的な治療はこれまで存在せず、早産期であっても分娩とせざるを得ない症例が少なからず存在する。PlGFやsFLT-1の発現異常が妊娠高血圧腎症の発症と深くかかわっていることが知られており、本研究結果からスタチン製剤が早産期の妊娠高血圧腎症に対して妊娠期間の延長が期待される薬効があることが明らかとなった。今後、動物実験などでさらなる治療効果の検証が期待される。