Serum levels of angiopoietin-related growth factor are increased in preeclampsia.
BACKGROUND
Preeclampsia is a serious complication in pregnancy with an increased future cardiovascular and metabolic risk for both mother and newborn. Recently, angiopoietin-related growth factor (AGF) was introduced as a novel liver-derived protein with proangiogenic and insulin-sensitizing effects. In the current study, we hypothesized that serum levels of AGF would be lower in preeclamptic patients as compared to healthy controls.


METHODS
AGF was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in control and preeclamptic patients during pregnancy (


METHODS
n =22, Preeclampsia: n =22) and 6 months after delivery (


METHODS
n =20, Preeclampsia: n =20). Furthermore, circulating AGF was correlated to clinical and biochemical measures of renal function, glucose, and lipid metabolism, as well as inflammation.


RESULTS
During pregnancy, median maternal AGF concentrations were significantly higher in preeclampsia (191.6 microg/l) as compared to control subjects (136.3 microg/l) (P = 0.004). Furthermore, preeclampsia and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were associated with AGF levels in multivariate analyses independent of maternal age. However, higher circulating AGF concentrations in preeclampsia did not persist 6 months after delivery.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal AGF serum levels are significantly and paradoxically higher in preeclampsia during pregnancy. However, median postpartum circulating AGF levels are similar in preeclampsia and normal pregnancies.
Stepan
Holger
H
Department of Obstetrics, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
Ebert
Thomas
T
Schrey
Susanne
S
Reisenbüchler
Constanze
C
Stein
Sebastian
S
Lossner
Ulrike
U
Bluher
Matthias
M
Stumvoll
Michael
M
Kratzsch
Jürgen
J
Faber
Renaldo
R
Fasshauer
Mathias
M
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000091308:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 6; D000075802:Angiopoietin-like Proteins; D042682:Angiopoietins / Q000097:blood*; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006728:Hormones / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D055815:Young Adult
C477601:ANGPTL6 protein, human; D000091308:Angiopoietin-Like Protein 6; D000075802:Angiopoietin-like Proteins; D042682:Angiopoietins; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D001786:Blood Glucose; D006728:Hormones; D007328:Insulin