Autoantibodies isolated from patients with preeclampsia induce soluble endoglin production from trophoblast cells via interactions with angiotensin II type 1 receptor.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated whether angiotensin II type 1 receptor agonistic autoantibodies (AT1 -AAs) mediate the increased release of soluble endoglin (sEng) in women with preeclampsia.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained from women with normal pregnancies or with preeclampsia. Human first-trimester trophoblast cells were cultured with purified IgG derived from these sera, and the sEng protein and mRNA expression levels were measured in the supernatants. We also determined the effects of the AT1 -AAs on these cells following treatment with an AT1 receptor antagonist (losartan).


RESULTS
Compared with the IgG isolated from the women with normal pregnancies, treatments of the preeclamptic patients markedly increased sEng production and mRNA expression in trophoblast cells. Co-treatment with losartan significantly attenuated the release of sEng and sEng mRNA expression in the trophoblast cells.


CONCLUSIONS
AT1 -AAs may be related to the increased release of sEng observed during preeclampsia and may play important roles in the pathology of this disorder.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nihon University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Yusuke
Y
Kobayashi
Tatsuo
T
Yamamoto
Fumihisa
F
Chishima
Hideki
H
Takahashi
Manami
M
Suzuki
D000328:Adult; D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D000071063:Endoglin; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D019808:Losartan / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1 / Q000819:agonists / Q000276:immunology*; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*
D047228:Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers; D015703:Antigens, CD; D001323:Autoantibodies; C064206:ENG protein, human; D000071063:Endoglin; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044140:Receptor, Angiotensin, Type 1; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D019808:Losartan
Angiotensin II receptor; autoantibody; preeclampsia; soluble endoglin; trophoblast