Changes in serum levels of heat shock protein 70 in preterm delivery and pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate heat-shock protein (Hsp)70 as a novel marker to evaluate the curative effects of treatment for preterm delivery high-risk patients and pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
After obtaining informed consent, serum samples were collected from 31 preterm delivery high-risk patients with a tocolysis index of three points or above (A), seven pre-eclampsia patients (P), 46 normal pregnant women (B), and seven non-pregnant women (C). Of the 31 preterm delivery high-risk patients, 15 had preterm delivery (Ap) and 16 had full-term delivery (Af). The levels of Hsp70 were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
The Hsp70 levels in normal pregnant women were 8.6 +/- 1.9 ng/mL (first trimester), 5.5 +/- 1.0 ng/mL (second trimester) and 5.5 +/- 0.7 ng/mL (third trimester). There was no statistical difference in the Hsp70 levels between the three trimesters. The mean Hsp70 levels were 21.9 +/- 5.3 ng/mL (A), 35.3 +/- 9.6 ng/mL (Ap), 9.4 +/- 2.2 ng/mL (Af), 24.4 +/- 3.6 ng/mL (P), 6.1 +/- 0.6 ng/mL (B), and 2.4 +/- 0.6 ng/mL (C). Group Ap had significantly higher Hsp70 levels than group Af (P = 0.0112) and group B (P <0.0001). The duration of pregnancy after hospitalization for group Ap was significantly shorter than that for group Af (P=0.0088) and group B (P <0.0001). Group P also had significantly higher Hsp70 levels than group B (P <0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
Because Hsp70 levels were particularly high in treatment-resistant preterm delivery cases, Hsp70 may prove to be a useful marker for evaluating the curative effects of treatment for preterm delivery.
Fukushima
Akimune
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Iwate Medical University, Morioka, Japan. akimunef@iwate-med.ac.jp
Kawahara
Hisao
H
Isurugi
Chizuko
C
Syoji
Tadahiro
T
Oyama
Rie
R
Sugiyama
Toru
T
Horiuchi
Saburo
S
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood*; D010298:Parity; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins