Members of the TGF-beta family have been shown to play an important role in numerous tissues during development. In the present study we have investigated the spatial and temporal expression of TGF-beta 3, in human umbilical cord development. Total TGF-beta 3 protein content, assessed by immunoblotting, increased with advancing gestation as did immunostaining and mRNA in Wharton's jelly fibroblasts. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that TGF-beta 3 was present in all cell types. Temporal changes in TGF-beta 3 expression were observed in the vascular smooth muscle cells, such that with advancing gestation TGF-beta 3 protein expression and became mostly restricted to the extracellular compartment of the vascular media. This was associated with a decrease in TGF-beta 3 mRNA expression in umbilical vascular smooth muscle cells. Of clinical significance, umbilical cords from pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia, showed a significant reduction in total TGF-beta 3 protein expression when compared to those of age-matched patients. Both TGF-beta 3 mRNA and protein expression were downregulated in the endothelium and smooth muscle layers of the umbilical arteries, as well as in the Wharton jelly fibroblasts. Our data demonstrate that during umbilical cord development TGF-beta 3 expression is spatially and temporally regulated and that TGF-beta 3 expression is altered in umbilical cords of pregnancies complicated by pre-eclampsia. We speculate that the downregulation of TGF-beta 3 expression found in pre-eclamptic umbilical cord may contribute to the abnormal structure and mechanical properties seen in these pathological umbilical cords.
Copyright 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd.