A longitudinal study of circulating angiogenic and antiangiogenic factors and AT1-AA levels in preeclampsia.
Our earlier studies of preeclampsia (PE) at delivery have demonstrated the alteration of one carbon cycle, reduced placental omega 3 fatty acids, altered circulating levels of angiogenic factors and differential placental gene-specific methylation patterns of angiogenic factors. This study was undertaken to examine changes in the levels of angiogenic factors and angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibodies (AT1-AAs) throughout gestation, from early pregnancy until delivery, in women with PE and to examine their association with cord angiogenic factors, blood pressure and infant weight. A total of 81 pregnant women (46 normotensive and 35 with PE) were followed at three different time points during pregnancy: 16-20 weeks (T1), 26-30 weeks (T2) and at the time of delivery (T3). The plasma levels of angiogenic factors and AT1-AAs were determined in the maternal and cord plasma by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Maternal plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and placental growth factor (PlGF) were lower (P<0.05 for both), whereas soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1; P<0.05) and the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio (P<0.01) were higher in early pregnancy in the PE group. Maternal plasma AT1-AA levels were higher (P<0.05) at T2 in women with PE. Cord plasma VEGF and soluble kinase insert domain receptor (sKDR) levels were lower (P<0.01 and P<0.05, respectively), whereas AT1-AA levels were higher (P<0.05) in the PE group. Maternal plasma VEGF levels in early pregnancy were positively associated with systolic blood pressure, whereas the sFlt-1/PlGF ratio at T2 was negatively associated with infant weight in the PE group. Low levels of proangiogenic factors (VEGF and PlGF) and high levels of AT1-AAs and antiangiogenic factors (sFlt-1 and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio) are present in the maternal circulation during early gestation in women with PE.
Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India.
Akriti S
AS
Sahay
Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India.
Vidya V
VV
Patil
Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India.
Deepali P
DP
Sundrani
Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India.
Asmita A
AA
Joshi
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Bharati Medical College and Hospital, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India.
Girija N
GN
Wagh
Gupte Hospital and Research Centre, Pune, India.
Sanjay A
SA
Gupte
Department of Nutritional Medicine, Interactive Research School for Health Affairs, Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune, India.
Sadhana R
SR
Joshi
D000328:Adult; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D047109:Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000276:immunology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 / Q000097:blood
D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D001323:Autoantibodies; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1; D040301:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2