title: Semaphorin 3F expression is reduced in pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. An observational clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia is a systemic disorder, affecting 2-10% of pregnancies, characterized by a deregulated pro- and anti-angiogenic balance. Semaphorin 3F is an angiogenesis inhibitor. We aimed to investigate whether semaphorin 3F expression is modulated in preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed two observational single center cohort studies between March 2013 and August 2014. In the first we enrolled 110 consecutive women, undergoing an elective cesarean section; in the second we included 150 consecutive women undergoing amniocentesis for routine clinical indications at 16-18 week of gestation. Semaphorin 3F concentration was evaluated in maternal peripheral blood, venous umbilical blood and amniotic fluid, along with its placenta protein expression at the time of delivery in the first study group and in the amniotic fluid at 16-18 weeks of gestation in the second study group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the first study 19 patients presented at delivery with preeclampsia. Semaphorin 3F placenta tissue expression was significantly reduced in preeclampsia. In addition, semaphorin 3F level at delivery was significantly lower in serum, amniotic fluid and venous umbilical blood of preeclamptic patients compared with normal pregnant women. In the prospective cohort study 14 women developed preeclampsia. In this setting, semaphorin 3F amniotic level at 16-18 weeks of gestation was reduced in women who subsequently developed preeclampsia compared to women with a normal pregnancy. ROC curve analysis showed that semaphorin 3F amniotic levels could identify women at higher risk of preeclampsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Semaphorin 3F might represent a predictive biomarker of preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stallone
authors.affiliation: Gynaecologic and Obstetric Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matteo
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe Stefano
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Netti
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Infante
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Adelaide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Lorenzo
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Clelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prattichizzo
authors.affiliation: Gynaecologic and Obstetric Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carlucci
authors.affiliation: Gynaecologic and Obstetric Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Trezza
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Dept. of Emergency and Organ Transplantation, University of Bari "A. Moro", Piazza G. Cesare 11, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Loreto
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gesualdo
authors.affiliation: Gynaecologic and Obstetric Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Pantaleo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.affiliation: Nephrology Dialysis and Transplantation Unit, Dept. of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Viale Luigi Pinto, 1, Foggia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1213-2177
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grandaliano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood*; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C491230:SEMA3F protein, human