The basement membrane proteins laminin and type IV collagen in isolated villi in pre-eclampsia

The distribution and concentrations of the basement membrane proteins laminin and type IV collagen were studied in isolated placental villi in normal pregnancy and in pre-eclampsia. In both cases these proteins could be localized by immunofluorescence in the trophoblast and capillary basement membranes, and occasionally also in the matrix surrounding the capillaries. The basement membrane proteins were quantified by solubilizing the villi with proteolytic enzymes and by subsequently measuring the concentrations of two resistant domains of these proteins (7-S collagen and the fragment PI, representing type IV collagen and laminin, respectively) with specific radioimmunoassays. The ratio type IV collagen:laminin was significantly higher in pre-eclamptic samples than in the controls, most probably reflecting a decrease in laminin concentration in the villi in pre-eclampsia. Such a change in the chemical composition of placental basement membranes could weaken the attachment of trophoblast cells to the underlying basement membrane and also modify the permeability and exchange properties of the villi.