Expression and Localization of Lectin-like Oxidized Low-density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 (LOX-1) in Murine and Human Placentas

Hiroo Satoh ¹, Emi Kiyota ¹, Yasuhiro Terasaki ¹, Tatsuya Sawamura ¹, Katsumasa Takagi ¹, Hiroshi Mizuta ¹ and Motohiro Takeya ^1*

¹ Department of Cell Pathology (HS,EK,YT,MT) and Department of Orthopaedic and Neuro-Musculoskeletal Surgery (HS,KT,HM), Graduate School of Medical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan, and Department of Vascular Physiology, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka, Japan (TS)

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: takeya{at}kumamoto-u.ac.jp.

Submitted on December 15, 2007
Accepted on 23 April 2008

	Abstract

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is one of the scavenger receptors that recognizes oxidized low-density lipoprotein as a major ligand. The placenta is a major source of prooxidant during pregnancy, and the level of placental oxidative stress increases rapidly at the end of the first trimester and tapers off later in gestation. In our study, we evaluated placental expression of LOX-1 during different gestational stages in the mouse and human. We used immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization to identify LOX-1-expressing cells in murine and human placentas. In both species, higher expression of LOX-1 mRNA during early to midgestational stages compared with late gestation —corresponding to the increased oxidative stress in early pregnancy— was revealed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. In murine placenta, we demonstrated that LOX-1-expressing cells were fibroblast-like stromal cells in metrial glands and decidua basalis and that they were glycogen trophoblast cells in the junctional and labyrinth zones. In the human, LOX-1 expression was detected in villous cytotrophoblasts in both of first trimester and term placentas. These localization patterns of LOX-1 in murine and human placentas suggest the possible involvement of LOX-1 in high oxidative stress conditions of pregnancy.

Key Words: LOX-1, placenta, glycogen trophoblast cells, fibroblast-like stromal cells

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