4 Epidermal growth factor receptor positively regulates sFlt1 secretion

Abstract

IntroductionPreeclampsia is associated with elevated placental secretion of the anti-angiogenic factor sFlt1. Surprisingly, little is understood about its regulation, characterizing this may identify therapeutic leads. Placenta has by far the highest Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) expression of non-malignant tissue. It is localized to the placental surface and elevated in preeclamptic placenta.ObjectivesOur objective was to characterize EGFR pathway expression in preeclamptic placenta and to assess whether EGFR signaling regulates sFlt1 secretion in primary human placenta.MethodsRNA and protein were extracted from a cohort of severe early onset preeclamptic (n=25) placentas as well ..