Evaluation of a panel of circulating DNA, RNA and protein potential markers for pathologies of pregnancy.
BACKGROUND
Among markers of pregnancy complications, corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) mRNA, long pentraxin 3 (PTX3) protein and fetal and total DNA had been reported to be increased in the plasma of women with overt preeclampsia (PE). We developed an optimized protocol to evaluate whether concentrations of CRH mRNA, PTX3 mRNA and protein, fetal and/or total DNA are increased in fetal growth restriction (FGR), and whether they predict complications of pregnancy.


METHODS
The protocol included a preamplification step to enrich rare mRNA species. CRH and PTX3 mRNA, DNA and PTX3 protein were measured in the plasma of women with PE or FGR, in women at risk of developing these pathologies and in healthy women matched for gestational age.


RESULTS
CRH mRNA, fetal and/or total DNA and PTX3 protein were significantly increased in women with overt PE when compared to controls. Pregnant women who later developed PE or FGR during pregnancy showed total DNA levels that were significantly increased before the onset of both pathologies, while RNA markers were increased only in women who later developed PE.


CONCLUSIONS
Our protocol for plasma RNA quantification may allow for the extension of a panel of predictive markers to be investigated in larger patient cohorts.
Galbiati
Silvia
S
Genomic Unit for the Diagnosis of Human Pathologies, Center for Genomics, Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
Causarano
Vincenza
V
Pinzani
Pamela
P
Francesca
Salvianti
S
Orlando
Claudio
C
Smid
Maddalena
M
Pasi
Federica
F
Castiglioni
Maria T
MT
Cavoretto
Paolo
P
Rovere-Querini
Patrizia
P
Pedroni
Silvia
S
Calza
Stefano
S
Ferrari
Maurizio
M
Cremonesi
Laura
L
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000235:genetics; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood*; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000235:genetics; D000099153:Pentraxins
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D004247:DNA; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D000099153:Pentraxins