Evaluation of plasma insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 as a potential predictor of preeclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Elevated growth factor activity in women with preeclampsia is caused by an acid- and heat-labile protein complex with a native molecular mass of 150,000. The major plasma insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 has identical molecular characteristics. We hypothesized that increased endothelial cell release or decreased proteolytic degradation of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in preeclampsia would result in higher circulating levels of insulin-like growth factors and hence in increased mitogenic activity.


METHODS
Plasma insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 concentrations were determined by iodine-125 insulin-like growth factor-II radioligand blots of nonreducing gels in 16 normal and 16 preeclamptic patients collected from a prospective, case-control study. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays also were performed with a specific anti-insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 antiserum.


RESULTS
Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 concentrations were not different between women with normal versus preeclamptic pregnancies (p = 0.23). Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays confirmed these results in a subset of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings indicate that insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 concentrations do not account for the elevated mitogenic activity observed in plasma from women with preeclampsia and are not a useful screening test for preeclampsia risk.
Varma
M
M
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0132.
de Groot
C J
CJ
Lanyi
S
S
Taylor
R N
RN
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006131:Growth Inhibitors / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006131:Growth Inhibitors; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins