A proteomic approach identifies early pregnancy biomarkers for preeclampsia: novel linkages between a predisposition to preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease.
Preeclampsia (PE) is a common, potentially life-threatening pregnancy syndrome triggered by placental factors released into the maternal circulation, resulting in maternal vascular dysfunction along with activated inflammation and coagulation. Currently there is no screening test for PE. We sought to identify differentially expressed plasma proteins in women who subsequently develop PE that may perform as predictive biomarkers. In seven DIGE experiments, we compared the plasma proteome at 20 wk gestation in women who later developed PE with an appropriate birth weight for gestational age baby (n=27) or a small for gestational age baby (n=12) to healthy controls with uncomplicated pregnancies (n=57). Of the 49 differentially expressed spots associated with PE-appropriate for gestational age, PE-small for gestational age or both (p<0.05, false discovery rate corrected), 39 were identified by LC-MS/MS. Two protein clusters that accurately (>90%) classified women at risk of developing PE were identified. Immunoblots confirmed the overexpression of fibrinogen gamma chain and alpha-1-antichymotrypsin in plasma prior to PE. The proteins identified are involved in lipid metabolism, coagulation, complement regulation, extracellular matrix remodeling, protease inhibitor activity and acute-phase responses, indicating novel synergism between pathways involved in the pathogenesis of PE. Our findings are remarkably similar to recently identified proteins complexed to high-density lipoprotein and linked to cardiovascular disease.
Blumenstein
Marion
M
School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. m.blumenstein@auckland.ac.nz
McMaster
Michael T
MT
Black
Michael A
MA
Wu
Steven
S
Prakash
Roneel
R
Cooney
Janine
J
McCowan
Lesley M E
LM
Cooper
Garth J S
GJ
North
Robyn A
RA
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D020543:Proteome / Q000378:metabolism; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D000514:alpha 1-Antichymotrypsin; C027539:fibrinopeptides gamma; D005340:Fibrinogen