Pro- to Anti-angiogenic Ratio in Preeclampsia

Background: During fetal development, human placenta undergoes both angiogenesis and vasculogenesis. An imbalance in proangiogenic [placental growth factor (PlGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor] and antiangiogenic factors [soluble fms like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), soluble endoglin (sEng)] seems to play an important role in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Heme oxygenase-1 HO-1 is induced by ROS (reactive oxygen species) and NO (nitric oxide) and was recently discovered to be involved in angiogenesis. Methods: Hence, the present study was designed to analyze the proangiogenic and antiangiogenic role of heme oxygenase-1 and endoglin in maternal and cord blood of normotensive and preeclamptic women. Fifty pregnant women were selected and grouped as group 1 (control, n=25) comprising of normotensive women immediately after delivery; group 2 (study group) comprising of age -and sex-matched preeclamptic women. Study samples were drawn (maternal venous blood and umbilical cord blood) and heme oxygenase-1 and endoglin levels were analyzed by competitive enzymelinked immunosorbent assay. Results: Maternal and cord blood heme oxygenase-1 levels were significantly elevated in preeclamptic mothers as compared to normotensive pregnant women (p<0.001). Serum and cord blood endoglin levels were significantly lower in preeclamptic women as compared to normotensive pregnant women (p<0.001). HO-1/Eng ratio was drastically doubled in preeclamptics as compared to normotensive pregnant women. In normotensive [HO]/ [Eng+ IGF] were lower in normotensive pregnant and drastically increased in preeclamptics. Conclusion: The findings of a present study indicating a shift towards antiangiogenic profile in women with preeclampsia confirm their possible role to induce characteristic clinical manifestations of preeclampsia such as proteinuria and hypertension.

Download Full-text

Early Serum Heme Oxygenase-1, Soluble Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1, and B-Cell Lymphoma/Leukemia-2 Levels and Unfavorable Obstetric Outcomes

Gynecology Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine ◽

10.21613/gorm.2021.1177 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Havva Sutcu ◽

G. Fusun Varol ◽

Cihan Inan ◽

Isil Uzun ◽

N.Cenk Sayin

Keyword(s):

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽

Preterm Birth ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Heme Oxygenase ◽

Growth Factor Receptor ◽

Fetal Macrosomia ◽

Heme Oxygenase 1 ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Spontaneous Preterm Birth ◽

Endothelial Growth Factor

OBJECTIVE: To examine early pregnancy levels of serum heme oxygenase-1, soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 in relation to unfavorable pregnancy outcomes, including preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth, gestational diabetes mellitus and fetal macrosomia. STUDY DESIGN: A total of randomly selected 140 pregnancies were included in this prospective study. Peripheral blood samples were obtained between 110/7 and 136/7 gestational weeks. All pregnancies were followed up until the outcomes were obtained and classified as preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, spontaneous preterm birth, gestational diabetes mellitus, fetal macrosomia, and uncomplicated ones. RESULTS: Significantly high levels of early serum heme oxygenase-1 were found in the cases who subsequently developed preeclampsia, spontaneous preterm birth, and fetal macrosomia (p<0.05), in concordance with high soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 levels of the preeclampsia group, however, B-cell lymphoma/leukemia-2 s were similar in all groups. As soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 predicted preeclampsia at a value of 11.905 ng/mL, the cutoff values for the heme oxygenase-1 to predict preeclampsia, spontaneous preterm birth, and fetal macrosomia were 0.372 ng/mL, 0.354 ng/mL and 0.494 ng/ml, respectively. CONCLUSION: Elevated first trimester heme oxygenase-1 levels are remarkable in the pregnancies associated with preeclampsia, spontaneous preterm birth, and fetal macrosomia in comparison with uncomplicated ones.

Download Full-text

A study of vascular endothelial growth factor in the cord blood of pre-eclamptics and healthy pregnant women

Asian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.3126/ajms.v8i1.15711 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 21-25

Author(s):

Anita Rawat ◽

Anil Kumar Gangwar ◽

Archana Ghildiyal ◽

Neena Srivastava ◽

Sunita Tiwari ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ◽

Growth Factor ◽

Cord Blood ◽

Pregnant Women ◽

Assay Method ◽

Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽

Control Group ◽

Vascular Endothelial ◽

Cord Serum ◽

Endothelial Growth Factor

Background: Pre-eclampsia(PE) is the most frequently encountered medical complication during pregnancy. In developing countries PE is a principal cause of maternal mortality. A disturbance in the angiogenic/antiangiogenic factors and in the hypoxia/placental re-oxygenation process, seems to activate a maternal endothelial dysfunction.Aims and Objective: To estimate Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor ( VEGF ) level in the cord blood of healthy and Preeclamptic ( PEc ) pregnant women and to associate this with Preeclamptic pregnancy.Material and Methods: A case-control study ofUmbilical cord serum VEGF levels from women with uncomplicated pregnancies (control group, n=60) and pregnancies complicated by Pre-eclampsia (n=40). VEGF in the cord serum was estimated by SANDWICH Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay method by using ELISA Kit and then compared between the two groups.Results: The mean VEGF concentrations in the women who had pre-eclampsia (578.62±468.3) were lower than in the control group( 625.75±533.1) , but the difference was not statistically significant ( p= 0.8548). Conclusion VEGF plays a key role in the instability between endothelial dysfunction and angiogenesis that occurs during Preeclampsia. VEGF levels might be a useful tool for the early diagnosis of Pre-eclampsia.Asian Journal of Medical Sciences Vol.8(1) 2017 21-25

Download Full-text