Preeclampsia: increased expression of soluble ADAM 12.
Preeclampsia is a multisystemic pregnancy-associated disease affecting about 3-7% of pregnancies worldwide and is still a principal cause of fetal and maternal morbidity and mortality. To identify potential markers, we have compared gene expression profiles from control and preeclamptic placental tissues taken at various age-matched gestational stages using complementary DNA microarray analysis. Besides previously identified preeclampsia-associated genes, novel differentially expressed transcripts were found. The soluble form of the disintegrin metalloprotease ADAM 12 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 12; meltrin-alpha) represented the most upregulated transcript. This was confirmed by in situ hybridization of sections of preeclamptic placentas and by serum protein analysis of preeclamptic pregnant women. Thus, ADAM 12 could serve as an early biomarker for preeclampsia that may be of predictive and/or functional significance.
Gack
Sabine
S
Division for Signal Transduction and Growth Control, Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
Marmé
Alexander
A
Marmé
Frederik
F
Wrobel
Gunnar
G
Vonderstrass
Birgitta
B
Bastert
Gunther
G
Lichter
Peter
P
Angel
Peter
P
Schorpp-Kistner
Marina
M
D051722:ADAM Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000072199:ADAM12 Protein; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015415:Biomarkers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051722:ADAM Proteins; D000072199:ADAM12 Protein; C000606480:ADAM12 protein, human