The dynamics of cullin-1 expression in preeclamptic placenta and its association with pregnancy termination time

BACKGROUND: Preeclampsia is a systemic syndrome occurring in 3–5% of pregnancies, caused by disorders of cellular factors resulting in the disruption of trophoblast differentiation and invasion which is important for the placental development and maintaining pregnancy. Cullin-1 is a protein that plays a role in the process of maintaining pregnancy, development, and trophoblast invasion in the placenta. Until now, there have been no studies linking the expression of cullin-1 in preeclamptic patients with the timing of pregnancy termination. AIM: This study analyzed cullin-1 expression in preeclamptic patients and their relationship to the timing of pregnancy termination was carried out. METHODS: Placental samples were taken from preeclampsia patients consisting of three gestational age groups, then immunohistochemical staining was performed to see the dynamics of expression and distribution in each age group of pregnancy and to find out their relationship with the timing of pregnancy termination. RESULTS: Cullin-1 was expressed in syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts. The lowest cullin-1 level was obtained in the very preterm age group, and the highest was found in the moderate preterm gestational age group. There was a significant difference between cullin-1 optical density (OD) expression and termination time of pregnancy, and there was a significant difference (OD) in cullin-1 preeclamptic patients with very preterm gestational age with moderate preterm gestational age. CONCLUSION: Cullin-1 was expressed both in syncytiotrophoblasts and cytotrophoblasts and was associated with the timing of pregnancy termination.