title: Bioactive proteins in healthy pregnancies and preeclampsia: relevance to hypertension and proteinuria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bioactive proteins, such as cytokines and chemokines, have not been systematically evaluated in healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. We aimed to investigate the difference of these proteins between healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies in order to help clarify their potential roles in the pathogenesis of hypertension and proteinuria in preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples of amniotic fluid and maternal/umbilical cord blood were collected from normal pregnancies and women with preeclampsia for examination of bioactive proteins. Fifty-three pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Of them, 30 pregnant women were recruited as healthy controls, and 23 pregnant women were diagnosed with preeclampsia. An antibody array was used to screen for higher levels of cytokines and related proteins in amniotic fluid than in the blood samples, and these proteins were then selected for quantification by immunoassay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Interleukin-1 receptor 4, hepatocyte growth factor, and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor were significantly elevated in the blood of preeclampsia patients. In particular, interleukin-1 receptor 4 was 8-fold higher in preeclampsia patients than in the healthy pregnancies. Moreover, in cord blood samples hepatocyte growth factor and interleukin-8 were significantly higher in preeclampsia patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the biologic activities, Interleukin-1 receptor 4, hepatocyte growth factor, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and interleukin-8 in maternal and/or cord blood could play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and proteinuria in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yan-yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Chang-ping
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Xiao-yu
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Huai-zhong
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D018925:Chemokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000097:blood; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase