Objective: Hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) have been characterized as the most important regulators of O(2)-dependent gene transcription. We investigated expression of HIF-dependent growth factors and HIF-independent somatotrophic factors in term placenta in response to hypoxic ischemia.
Study design: Our cross-sectional in vivo analysis included term placentas of gestations complicated by the following: (1) birth asphyxia (n = 22); (2) chronic hypoxic ischemia (n = 22); and (3) controls (n = 28). Gene expression of leptin, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1, IGF-2, ghrelin, and human placental growth hormone (hPGH) were measured by TaqMan reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction.
Results: Acute and chronic hypoxia significantly increased leptin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) levels, compared with controls (P < .001). Augmented IGF-2 mRNA levels were present in chronic hypoxia (P < .001) but not in birth asphyxia. IGF-1, ghrelin, and hPGH mRNA levels did not change in relation to hypoxia.
Conclusion: IGF-2 and leptin are suggested to be involved in adaptive response to hypoxic ischemia in term placenta with differential transcriptional regulation related to the duration of hypoxia.