Anti-elastin antibodies and elastin turnover in normal pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate elastin turnover and autoimmunity in patients with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and during normal pregnancy.


METHODS
Anti-alpha-elastin and anti-tropoelastin IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by a home-made ELISA in serum samples of 60 medically and obstetrically normal pregnant women, classified to three trimester groups, 18 female patients with RPL and 18 healthy non-pregnant women with a history of successful pregnancies. One way analyses of variance and Least Significant Difference method were used for a statistical analysis.


RESULTS
Anti-alpha-elastin IgG autoantibodies were significantly decreased in the third trimester pregnant women. IgM anti-alpha-elastin autoantibodies were significantly decreased in all pregnancy groups compared with the controls. Synthesis/degradation ratio of elastin was significantly increased in the third trimester pregnancy group, suggesting decreased elastin degradation during this period of pregnancy. Comparing the RPL patients with the healthy non-pregnant controls showed a significantly increased anti-alpha-elastin IgG antibody and significantly decreased synthesis/degradation ratio in the patient's group, suggesting increased elastin degradation in RPL.


CONCLUSIONS
Elastin degradation is decreased during normal pregnancy. Increased anti-elastin IgG antibodies may contribute to the pathogenesis of pregnancy losses.
Konova
Emiliana
E
Center for Reproductive Health, Medical University of Pleven, Pleven, Bulgaria. eikonova@abv.bg
Aleksovska
Tania
T
Atanasova
Milena
M
Georgieva
Miglena
M
Todorova
Katia
K
Lukanov
Tzvetan
T
Shoenfeld
Yehuda
Y
D000026:Abortion, Habitual / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D004549:Elastin / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014333:Tropoelastin / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies; D014333:Tropoelastin; D004549:Elastin