Serum activin A and inhibin A elevated in pre-eclampsia: no relation to insulin sensitivity.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the possible role of serum levels of activin A, inhibin A and pro-alpha inhibin (pro-alphaC) in insulin sensitivity in pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
Helsinki University Central Hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-two nulliparous women with proteinuric pre-eclampsia and 16 healthy nulliparous controls in the third trimester of pregnancy.


METHODS
Serum samples were collected before and after intravenous injection of glucose (0.3 g/kg) and insulin (0.03 IU/kg) (the minimal model for testing insulin sensitivity), and were assayed for activin A, inhibin A and pro-alphaC.


METHODS
Comparison of the levels of activin A, inhibin A and pro-alphaC between pre-eclamptic and healthy pregnant women, and the association of these proteins with insulin sensitivity.


RESULTS
In pre-eclampsia elevated levels of activin A (139%, P = 0.0001), inhibin A (39%, P = 0.003), and pro-alphaC (92%, P = 0.0008) were observed. The amount of proteinuria (0.3-10.5 g/day) correlated positively with serum concentrations of activin A (P = 0.01) and inhibin A (P = 0.02). These glycoproteins were not associated with insulin sensitivity either in women with pre-eclampsia or controls. A 2.9-fold rise in blood glucose and a 52.5-fold rise in insulin during testing using the minimal model were not accompanied by any significant changes in activin A, inhibin A, and pro-alphaC.


CONCLUSIONS
Activin A, inhibin A, and pro-alphaC are elevated in pre-eclampsia but do not appear to relate to the insulin sensitivity in pre-eclamptic or normal pregnancies.
Laivuori
H
H
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Kaaja
R
R
Turpeinen
U
U
Stenman
U H
UH
Ylikorkala
O
O
D028341:Activins; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007265:Inhibins / Q000097:blood*; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011295:Prenatal Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D010455:Peptides; D011498:Protein Precursors; C094377:inhibin-alpha subunit; C095971:inhibin-alpha subunit precursor; D028341:Activins; D007265:Inhibins