Lymphatic vascular endothelial hyaluronan receptor-1 immunoexpression in placenta of HIV infected pre-eclamptic women

•This study has shown that LYVE-1 is a heterogeneous marker for both lymphatic, arterial and venous endothelial cells.•There is also a significant decrease of LYVE-1 expression in EOPE+.•LYVE-1 immuno-expression was significantly elevated in the conducting compared to the exchange villi.

IntroductionLymphangiogenesis is the formation of new vessels from pre-existing lymphatic vessels. Data on lymphangiogenesis in the placenta of HIV-infected pre-eclamptics are sparse and the findings are conflicting. The aim of this novel study was to evaluate LYVE-1 immunoexpression in the placenta of HIV infected normotensive versus pre-eclamptic women.MethodsPlacental tissue was obtained from normotensive and pre-eclamptic women stratified according to their HIV status. The pre-eclamptic group was divided into early (<34 weeks) and late (>34 weeks) onset. Immunohistochemistry utilized mouse anti-human LYVE-1 antibody and was morphometrically evaluated.ResultsLYVE-1 immunostaining was localized within endothelium of the arterial supply and venous drainage of both conducting and exchange villi as well as within medial cells of arteries. LYVE-1 immunostained macrophage-like cells were observed within the fetal and maternal circulation. LYVE-1 immunoexpression was higher (p = 0.0001) in HIV positive cohort, regardless of pregnancy and villous type. Irrespective of HIV status and pregnancy type, LYVE-1 immunoexpression was significantly elevated in the conducting compared to the exchange villi (p = 0.01). LYVE-1 immunoexpression was higher in N and LOPE compared to EOPE groups for both conducting and exchange villi types respectively (p = 0.0001 and p = 0.006). There is a decrease of LYVE-1 expression in EOPE+ (conducting villi) and EOPE− (exchange villi) compared to N and LOPE subgroups.ConclusionThis study provides a novel insight into an up-regulation of LYVE-1 expression in the fetal circulation of conducting and exchange villi of HIV-infected pre-eclamptics.