Placental leptin mRNA expression and serum leptin levels in pre-eclampsia associated with HIV infection.
Leptin, primarily produced by adipocytes, is implicated in the development of pre-eclampsia. This study examines placental leptin production and serum leptin levels in HIV infected and uninfected normotensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Placental leptin production was analysed by RT-PCR and serum leptin levels by ELISA in normotensive (n = 90) and pre-eclamptic (n = 90) pregnancies which were further stratified by HIV status. Placental leptin production was higher in pre-eclampsia compared to normotensive pregnancies irrespective of HIV status (p = .04). Serum leptin was non-significantly raised in HIV uninfected (p = .42) but lower in HIV-infected (p = .03) pre-eclampsia. The latter had lower BMI (p = .007) and triceps skin-fold thickness (p < .001) than the HIV uninfected groups with a significant correlation between serum leptin and triceps skin-fold thickness (p < .001), indicative of less adipose tissue in HIV-infected women with consequently lower serum leptin. Thus, serum leptin levels are not indicative of increased placental production when pre-eclampsia is associated with HIV infection.
a Optics & Imaging Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
Firoza
F
Haffejee
a Optics & Imaging Centre, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
Thajasvarie
T
Naicker
b Discipline of Biochemistry , School of Life Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
Moganavelli
M
Singh
c Centre for AIDS Programme Research in South Africa , Durban , South Africa.
Ayesha B M
AB
Kharsany
d Department of Paediatrics and Child Health , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
Miriam
M
Adhikari
e HIV Pathogenesis Programme , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
Ravesh
R
Singh
f Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology , Prince Mshiyeni Memorial Hospital , Durban , South Africa.
Niren
N
Maharaj
g Woman's Health and HIV Research Group , University of KwaZulu-Natal , Durban , South Africa.
Jagidesa
J
Moodley
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000821:virology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*
D020738:Leptin; D012333:RNA, Messenger
HIV; Leptin mRNA; pre-eclampsia