Alterations of maternal serum and placental follistatin-like 3 and myostatin in pre-eclampsia

Aim: To clarify the alterations of myostatin, a member of the transforming growth factor-beta superfamily, and follistatin-like 3 (FSTL3), a binding protein for myostatin, in pre-eclamptic women. Methods: Samples of blood and placenta were collected from 40 pre-eclamptic women and 40 controls. The serum level and placental expression of FSTL3 and myostatin were determined with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time polymerized chain reaction and western blotting. Results: The serum levels of myostatin and FSTL3 were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic women than in the controls (P < 0.001 for both). Placental expression of myostatin and FSTL3 were also significantly increased in the pre-eclamptic placenta compared with that of the controls (P < 0.001 for both); however, there were no significant differences in myostatin or FSTL3 in either the maternal serum or the placenta in women with mild or severe pre-eclampsia (P > 0.05 for both). Conclusion: The serum levels and placental expression of myostatin and FSTL3 are elevated in pre-eclampsia, suggesting the role of myostatin and its binding protein in pre-eclampsia.