The expression and significance of syncytin in placenta of normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia

Objective: To detect the expression and significance of syncytin mRNA in placenta of pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy. Methods: The expression of syncytin mRNA in placenta of 45 late-onset pre-eclampsia patients (20 cases of mild pre-eclampsia and 25 cases of severe pre-eclampsia), 15 early-onset severe pre-eclampsia and 20 normal pregnant women was determined by Real-time FQ-PCR. Results: Syncytin mRNA was expressed in placenta of normal and pre-eclampsia; it was significantly decreased in late-onset pre-eclampsia than in normal placenta, and the expression level was related to the severity of pre-eclampsia. Syncytin mRNA was significantly lower in early-onset severe pre-eclampsia than in late-onset pre-eclampsia placenta (P<0.01). Conclusion: Syncytin mRNA has a lower expression in placenta of pre-eclampsia, especially in early-onset severe pre-eclampsia; and expression of syncytin is related to trophocyte fusion, suggesting that disorder of trophocyte fusion may play a role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.