Sex differences in the mRNA levels of housekeeping genes in human placenta

Cleal, J.K., Day, P.L., Hanson, M.A. and Lewis, R.M. (2010) Sex differences in the mRNA levels of housekeeping genes in human placenta. Placenta, 31 (6), 556-557. (doi:10.1016/j.placenta.2010.03.006). (PMID:20398937)

Abstract

In our recent letter to Placenta we reported the expression stability of mRNA for 12 potential housekeeping genes in placental tissue using the geNorm system [1] J.K. Cleal, P. Day, M.A. Hanson and R.M. Lewis, Measurement of housekeeping genes in human placenta, Placenta (2009).[1]. We identified three which had the most stable mRNA expression and recommended these for use in studies on human placenta.

We have subsequently analysed the mRNA levels of these housekeeping genes by quantitative real-time rtPCR in 102 human placentas from the Southampton Women’s Survey [2]. With the larger sample size it became apparent that all three housekeeping genes were expressed at a higher level in male placentas (n = 53) than in female placentas (n = 49): UBC 19.8 (18.6–20.9) vs 17.8 (16.3–19.3), p = 0.035; TOP1 22.8 (21.7–23.8) vs 19.7 (18.4–20.9), p = 0.0002; YWHAZ 19.25 (18.4–20.1) vs 17.6 (16.7–18.6), p = 0.014, data is mean and 95% CI (arbitrary units) in male and female placentas respectively. This interesting observation has implications for our understanding of placental biology as well as questioning the suitability of these genes for use as housekeeping genes where male and female placentas are being analysed together.

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Contributors

Author: J.K. Cleal

Author: M.A. Hanson

Author: R.M. Lewis

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