title: Evidence for multiple circulating factors in preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to enrich vasoactive factors that are present in the plasma of women with preeclampsia by the application of sequential fractionation and determination of the activity of each fraction in a bioassay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Pooled plasma from women with preeclampsia (n = 23) and matched control subjects (n = 23) was subjected to fractionation with ultrafiltration, targeted immunodepletion, or size exclusion chromatography. Myometrial arteries that were isolated from healthy cesarean section biopsy specimens (n = 28) were incubated with plasma fractions (2%, volume/volume), and their endothelial function was assessed by wire myography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Incubation of arteries with preeclampsia plasma or immunodepleted preeclampsia plasma had a deleterious effect on endothelial-dependent relaxation. Bioactivity of the plasma factors was absent in all fractions after either plasma ultrafiltration or separation with the use of size exclusion chromatography; however, activity was restored after recombination of these fractions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides the first conclusive evidence that multiple synergistic factors, with a combined vasoactive effect, are present in the plasma of women with preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Maternal & Fetal Health Research Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. jenny.myers@manchester.ac.uk
authors.forename: Jenny E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Myers
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Armstrong
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mires
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beynon
authors.forename: Simon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Gaskell
authors.forename: Philip N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Baker
mesh_terms: D001685:Biological Factors / Q000097:blood*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors