Deficiency in p57^Kip2 expression induces preeclampsia-like symptoms in mice

p57^Kip2, a potent inhibitor of several cyclin/cyclin dependent kinase complexes (CDK ), is a paternally imprinted gene in both humans and mice, and here we show that pregnant mice which are heterozygous for p57^Kip2 deficiency display symptoms similar to preeclampsia. p57-/+ (heterozygotes for p57^Kip2 ) female mice that were mated with p57-/+ males showed hypertension, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, decreased anti-thrombin III activity, and increased endothelin levels during late pregnancy. In their kidneys, endotheliosis of glomeruli were recognized along with fibrinoid or hyalinoid deposits. These characteristics were also observed in pregnant p57-/+ females that were mated with wild type males, but not in pregnant wild type females mated with p57-/+ males or wild type males. The pregnant p57-/+ mice had conceptuses both with and without p57^Kip2 expression. The conceptuses without p57^Kip2 expression showed trophoblastic hyperplasia, which mimics the hallmark proliferation of intermediate trophoblasts in clinical preeclampsia. It is suggested that the preeclampsia-like symptoms of the pregnant p57-/ + mice might have been induced by the conceptus(es) without p57^Kip2 expression. In addition, pregnant p57-/+ mice might serve as a new animal model for preeclampsia characterized by trophoblastic hyperplasia.