title: Elevated systemic galectin-1 levels characterize HELLP syndrome.
abstract: Galectin-1 (gal-1), a member of a family of conserved β-galactoside-binding proteins, has been shown to exert a key role during gestation. Though gal-1 is expressed at higher levels in the placenta from HELLP patients, it is still poorly understood whether systemic gal-1 levels also differ in HELLP patients. In the present study, we evaluated the systemic expression of gal-1, together with the angiogenic factors, placental growth factor (PlGF) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFlt-1) in conjunction with HELLP syndrome severity. Systemic levels of gal-1 and sFlt-1 were elevated in patients with both early- and late-onset HELLP syndrome as compared to healthy controls. In contrast, peripheral PlGF levels were decreased in early- and late-onset HELLP. A positive correlation between systemic gal-1 levels and sFlt-1/PlGF ratios was found in early onset HELLP patients. Our results show that HELLP syndrome is associated with increased circulating levels of gal-1; integrating systemic gal-1 measurements into the diagnostic analyses of pregnant women may provide more effective prediction of HELLP syndrome development.
authors.affiliation: Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder - Frauenklinik St. Hedwig, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany. Electronic address: annegret.schnabel@barmherzige-regensburg.de.
authors.forename: Annegret
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schnabel
authors.affiliation: Charité Center for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Reproductive Medicine Research Group, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: sandra.blois@charite.de.
authors.forename: Sandra M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Blois
authors.affiliation: Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder - Frauenklinik St. Hedwig, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Meint
authors.affiliation: Charité Center for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Reproductive Medicine Research Group, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Freitag
authors.affiliation: Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder - Frauenklinik St. Hedwig, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ernst
authors.affiliation: Charité Center for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Reproductive Medicine Research Group, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barrientos
authors.affiliation: Charité Center for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Reproductive Medicine Research Group, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Melanie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Conrad
authors.affiliation: Charité Center for Internal Medicine and Dermatology, Division of General Internal and Psychosomatic Medicine, Reproductive Medicine Research Group, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Krankenhaus Barmherzige Brüder - Frauenklinik St. Hedwig, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seelbach-Göbel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D037483:Galectin 1 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D037483:Galectin 1; C445499:LGALS1 protein, human
keywords: Angiogenic factors; Galectin-1; HELLP; Pregnancy