title: Plasma osteopontin concentrations in preeclampsia - is there an association with endothelial injury?
abstract: Abstract Background: It has been previously reported that plasma osteopontin (OPN) concentrations are increased in cardiovascular disorders. The goal of the present study was to determine plasma OPN concentrations in healthy pregnant women and preeclamptic patients, and to investigate their relationship to the clinical characteristics of the study subjects and to markers of inflammation [C-reactive protein (CRP)], endothelial activation [von Willebrand factor antigen (VWF:Ag)] or endothelial injury (fibronectin), oxidative stress [malondialdehyde (MDA)] and trophoblast debris (cell-free fetal DNA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients with preeclampsia and 44 healthy pregnant women matched for age and gestational age were involved in this case-control study. Plasma OPN concentrations were measured with ELISA. Serum CRP concentrations were determined with an autoanalyzer using the manufacturer's reagents. Plasma VWF:Ag was quantified by ELISA, while plasma fibronectin concentrations were measured by nephelometry. Plasma MDA concentrations were estimated by the thiobarbituric acid-based colorimetric assay. The amount of cell-free fetal DNA in maternal plasma was determined by quantitative real-time PCR analysis of the sex-determining region Y (SRY) gene. For statistical analyses, non-parametric methods were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of CRP, as well as plasma concentrations of VWF:Ag, fibronectin, MDA and cell-free fetal DNA were significantly higher in preeclamptic patients than in healthy pregnant women. There was no significant difference in plasma OPN concentrations between controls and the preeclamptic group. However, preeclamptic patients with plasma fibronectin concentrations in the upper quartile had significantly higher plasma OPN concentrations than those below the 75th percentile, as well as healthy pregnant women [median (interquartile range): 9.38 (8.10-11.99) vs. 7.54 (6.31-9.40) and 7.40 (6.51-8.80) ng/mL, respectively, p<0.05 for both]. Furthermore, in preeclamptic patients, plasma OPN concentrations showed a significant positive linear association with plasma fibronectin (Spearman R=0.38, standardized regression coefficient (beta)=0.41, p<0.05 for both).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Plasma OPN concentrations are increased in preeclamptic patients with extensive endothelial injury. However, further studies are warranted to explore the relationship between OPN and endothelial damage. Clin Chem Lab Med 2010;48:181-7.
authors: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary.
authors: Balázs
authors: B
authors: Stenczer
authors: János
authors: J
authors: Rigó
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Prohászka
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Derzsy
authors: Levente
authors: L
authors: Lázár
authors: Veronika
authors: V
authors: Makó
authors: László
authors: L
authors: Cervenak
authors: Krisztián
authors: K
authors: Balogh
authors: Miklós
authors: M
authors: Mézes
authors: István
authors: I
authors: Karádi
authors: Attila
authors: A
authors: Molvarec
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000276:immunology; D053495:Osteopontin / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis / Q000379:methods; D012307:Risk Factors; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005353:Fibronectins; D053495:Osteopontin; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D004247:DNA