Complement activation induces dysregulation of angiogenic factors and causes fetal rejection and growth restriction.
Immune mechanisms have been implicated in placental dysfunction in patients with recurrent miscarriages and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), but the mediators are undefined. Here we show that complement activation, particularly C5a, is a required intermediary event in the pathogenesis of placental and fetal injury in an antibody-independent mouse model of spontaneous miscarriage and IUGR, and that complement activation causes dysregulation of the angiogenic factors required for normal placental development. Pregnancies complicated by miscarriage or growth restriction were characterized by inflammatory infiltrates in placentas, functional deficiency of free vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), elevated levels of soluble VEGF receptor 1 (sVEGFR-1, also known as sFlt-1; a potent anti-angiogenic molecule), and defective placental development. Inhibition of complement activation in vivo blocked the increase in sVEGFR-1 and rescued pregnancies. In vitro stimulation of monocytes with products of the complement cascade directly triggered release of sVEGFR-1, which sequesters VEGF. These studies provide the first evidence linking the complement system to angiogenic factor imbalance associated with placental dysfunction, and identify a new effector of immune-triggered pregnancy complications.
Girardi
Guillermina
G
Autoimmunity and Inflammation Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Yarilin
Dmitry
D
Thurman
Joshua M
JM
Holers
V Michael
VM
Salmon
Jane E
JE
D000022:Abortion, Spontaneous / Q000276:immunology*; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003167:Complement Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D015936:Complement C5a / Q000276:immunology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000276:immunology*; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008264:Macrophages / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D010927:Placental Insufficiency / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000276:immunology; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000276:immunology
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D015936:Complement C5a; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1