The levels of circulating vascular endothelial growth factor and soluble Flt-1 in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.
To evaluate the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, we measured total VEGF, free VEGF and soluble Flt-1 (sFlt-1) concentrations and determined their relationships. Maternal serum samples were collected from 20 patients with preeclampsia and 20 normotensive women with uncomplicated pregnancies matched with the patients with preeclampsia for gestational age and parity. The serum concentrations of total VEGF (2.39+/-0.75 vs. 0.28+/-0.14) and sFlt-1 (934.5+/-235.5 vs. 298.0+/-161.2) were significantly increased in the patients with preeclampsia compared to the women with uncomplicated pregnancies. However the serum concentration of free VEGF (21.5+/-6.3 vs. 134.0+/-16.3) was lower in patients with preeclampsia. There was a positive correlation between the serum concentrations of total VEGF and sFlt-1 with systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. There was a negative correlation between the serum concentration of free VEGF and systolic and diastolic blood pressure. There was a strong negative correlation between free VEGF and sFlt-1 concentrations. In conclusion, we found VEGF and sFlt-1 were related to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Although reduced concentrations of free VEGF might interfere with endothelial cell function and survival, further studies are required to clarify its specific role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.
Lee
Eun Sung
ES
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Korea.
Oh
Min-Jeong
MJ
Jung
Jae Won
JW
Lim
Ji-Eun
JE
Seol
Hyun-Joo
HJ
Lee
Kyung-Ju
KJ
Kim
Hai-Joong
HJ
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000502:physiology; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1