Evaluation of physiological alterations of the placenta through analysis of cell-free messenger ribonucleic acid concentrations of angiogenic factors.
OBJECTIVE
Placental messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) has been shown to circulate in maternal plasma. We investigated concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor-1 (VEGFR-1), and endoglin in subjects with preeclampsia, compared with normal pregnancies.


METHODS
Peripheral blood samples were obtained from preeclampsia (n = 43) and control subjects (n = 41). Plasma ribonucleic acid was subjected to analysis by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay to examine the mRNA distribution among women with preeclampsia and control subjects during weeks 35-41 of gestation.


RESULTS
Concentrations of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and endoglin mRNA of women with preeclampsia were significantly increased. The mRNA values were observed to correlate directly with the severity of hypertension and proteinuria. VEGFR-1 mRNA was markedly elevated in women with preeclampsia and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet syndrome.


CONCLUSIONS
The mRNA concentrations of VEGF, VEGFR-1, and endoglin were observed to correlate directly with the severity of preeclampsia.
Purwosunu
Yuditiya
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Sekizawa
Akihiko
A
Farina
Antonio
A
Wibowo
Noroyono
N
Koide
Keiko
K
Okazaki
Shiho
S
Nakamura
Masamitsu
M
Okai
Takashi
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010920:Placenta / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D012313:RNA / Q000097:blood; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D012313:RNA; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1