neuropeptide-y and Cholestasis--Intrahepatic

To explore the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and bioinformatics characteristics of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).. Gene chip data of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy were searched from the GEO database with bioinformatics method, and GSE46157 gene chip was downloaded. Differentially expressed genes in normal pregnant placenta tissue and ICP pregnant placenta tissue (bile acid concentration > 40 μmol/L) were screened by GEO2R. Functional annotation (GO) and pathway analysis (KEGG) were performed with DAVID. STRING online database and Cytoscape software were used for protein interaction network analysis. Maternal serum NPY level of 63 cases of ICP pregnant women and 20 normal pregnant women were investigated by ELISA.. After screening 3896 differential genes and protein interaction, the top 14 hub genes were selected with nine up-regulated and five down-regulated genes. ICP patients were divided into three subgroups according to serum TBA and ALT levels. Maternal serum NPY levels of pregnant women in ICP subgroups 1, 2, and 3 were significantly higher than those in the normal pregnant women. The number of premature births, meconium-staining amniotic fluid, neonatal asphyxia, and NICU admission was significantly higher in the ICP subgroup 1 than in the ICP subgroups 2 and 3, and than in the normal pregnant women.. This study indicates that many differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways are involved in the pathophysiological procedure of ICP. NPY could be a new biomarker of ICP.

Topics: Bile Acids and Salts; Biomarkers; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic; Computational Biology; Female; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Neuropeptide Y; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications

To investigate the relations of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expressions with fetal brain injury in rats with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).. Sixty rats pregnant for 15 days were randomly divided into experimental and control groups. The ICP model was established in experimental group. On the 21st day, the blood biochemical test, histopathological examination of pregnant rat liver and fetal brain tissues and immunohistochemical analysis of fetal rat brain tissues were performed.. On the 21st day, the alanineaminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bile acid levels in experimental group were significantly higher than control group (P<0.01). Compared with control group, there was obvious vacuolar degeneration in pregnant rat liver tissue and fetal brain tissue in experimental group. NPY expression in fetal brain tissue was negative in control group and positive in experimental group. HO-1 expression in fetal brain tissue was strongly positive in control group and positive in experimental group. There was significant difference of immunohistochemical staining optical density between two groups (P<0.01).. In fetal brain of ICP rats, the NPY expression is increased, and the HO-1 expression is decreased, which may be related to the fetal brain injury.

Topics: Animals; Brain Injuries; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Heme Oxygenase-1; Immunohistochemistry; Neuropeptide Y; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To analyze inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expression in maternal plasma and placentas of human with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).. The plasma and placentas were collected from 35 women with normal pregnancies and 33 women with ICP. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to investigate maternal plasma iNOS and NPY levels. The mRNA levels and cell-specific localization of iNOS and NPY were determined by quantitative PCR, Western Blotting and immunohistochemical analysis in placentas.. In human placentas, it revealed iNOS and NPY were mainly localized in syncytiotrophoblast, cytotrophoblastin and vascular endothelium cells using immunohistochemistry analysis. iNOS protein and mRNA expression in ICP maternal plasma and placental tissue were significantly lower than in control groups (P <0.01). In maternal plasma and placentas tissue from ICP patients, a marked up-regulation of NPY protein and mRNA expression were observed (P <0.01).. iNOS and NPY may play a role in the effect of maternal cholestasis on the placenta. The down-regulation of iNOS and up-regulation of NPY in ICP may influence the blood flow of the utero-placental-fetal unit, which may play a significant role in poor fetoplacental vascular perfusion, acute hypoxia and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Topics: Adult; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic; Female; Humans; Neuropeptide Y; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; Placenta; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Young Adult

The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of intrahepatic cholestasis pregnant (ICP) offspring.. The model of ICP rats was established by injecting s.c. 17α-ethinyl estradiol. The expression of NPY and POMC in female offspring was determined by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and immunohistochemistry at birthday and 6 months.. ICP group offspring had lower bodyweight at birthday. ICP offspring were markedly heavier than control offspring after 6 months. mRNA and protein expression of NPY and POMC significantly increased at 6 months as compared with the birthday among control offspring. Among ICP offspring, mRNA and protein expression of NPY and POMC also were higher at 6 months than at birthday. The mRNA and protein expression of NPY were higher in ICP offspring than that of control offspring at birthday. The mRNA and protein expression of POMC were decreased in ICP offspring than that of control offspring. After 6 months, the mRNA expression and protein expression of NPY also were higher in ICP offspring than that of control offspring. The mRNA expression and protein expression of POMC also were decreased in ICP offspring than that of control offspring. The results were confirmed by immunohistochemistry.. ICP offspring demonstrated evidence of persistent appetite stimulation with significantly upregulated NPY expression and reduced POMC expression at birthday and 6 months. ICP offspring showed a hunger state and then gained weight.

Topics: Animals; Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus; Cholestasis, Intrahepatic; Ethinyl Estradiol; Female; Gene Expression; Neuropeptide Y; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; Pro-Opiomelanocortin; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; RNA, Messenger