Altered global gene expressions of human placentae subjected to assisted reproductive technology treatments

Clustering display of microarray data and the functional classification of differentially expressed genes in placenta. (A) The comparison of the 26 differentially expressed genes between the ART and control groups were performed using SAM software, then upon hierarchical clustering, visualized with TreeView tools. Gene symbols are labeled on the right. Expression levels are represented by a color tag, with red representing the highest levels of expression, and green for the lowest. (B, C) The two classifications according to functions and cell components of differentially expressed genes of interest in this study, found in normal and ART-manipulated placentae. The 18 identified genes are divided into six groups according to their biological functions (B) and six groups according to their cell components (C). The percentage of genes in each group is also indicated.

The results of qRT-PCR for differentially expressed genes from placental tissue derived from ART manipulation. ERAP2, VNN3, NMU, CLDN8, SCAP, GABRB1, CRHBP, MUC1, SLC26A7 and STAT4 mRNA abundance were quantified by qRT-PCR to validate the microarray results. Comparisons were drawn between the control (open bars) and ART-manipulated group (black bars). All data were presented as the mean ± SD. Significant differences are indicated (*P < 0.05, **P < 0.01).

Immunohistochemistry on ERAP2, STAT4, MUC1, SCAP and VNN3 for the detection of cellular localizaton. All proteins were found located in either the cytoplasm or membrane of syncytiotrophoblastic cells in placental villus tissues obtained from control group. Negative control sections shown in the bottom row were incubated with non-mmunized normal corresponding IgG. (Scale Bar = 10 um).