O-Linked N-Acetylglucosamine Epitope H Expression in Placentas of Pregnancies Complicated With Fetal Growth Restriction: A Case-Control Immunochemistry Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a major and common complication of pregnancy. As the placenta holds the key to fetal growth, the detection of biomarkers associated with FGR is essential. The aim of the present study was to compare the expression of O-linked N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) epitope H in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated with FGR and gestations with normal growth.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Postpartum samples from chorionic villi from pregnancies were used for the present study. An immunochemical pathology study was performed in order to study the expression of O-GlcNAc epitope H.

RESULTS

In total, 30 pregnant women were included. When the expression of epitope H between the two groups was compared, the proportion of FGR pregnancies with high expression of epitope H in chorionic villi was statistically significant higher (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Although preliminary findings regarding the expression of O-GlcNAc epitope H in chorionic villi samples of pregnancies complicated by FGR are promising, further studies are expected to contribute to a better understanding of the role of O-GlcNacylation in FGR pathogenesis and its clinical significance.