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Venou TM, Vetsiou E, Varelas C, Daniilidis A, Psarras K, Koravou EE, Koutra M, Touloumenidou T, Tsolakidis V, Papalexandri A, Minti F, Mandala E, Dinas K, Vlachaki E, Gavriilaki E. Increased Complement Activation and Decreased ADAMTS13 Activity Are Associated with Genetic Susceptibility in Patients with Preeclampsia/HELLP Syndrome Compared to Healthy Pregnancies: An Observational Case-Controlled Study. J Pers Med 2024; 14:387. [PMID: 38673014 PMCID: PMC11051193 DOI: 10.3390/jpm14040387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a progressive multi-systemic disorder characterized by proteinuria, critical organ damage, and new-onset hypertension. It can be further complicated by HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets), resulting in critical liver or renal damage, disseminated coagulation, and grand mal seizures. This study aimed to examine the involvement of ADAMTS13, von Willebrand, and the complement system in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome. We studied 30 Caucasian preeclamptic pregnant women and a control group of 15 healthy pregnancies. Genetic sequencing of ADAMTS13 and complement regulatory genes (MiniSeq System, Illumina) was performed. The modified Ham test was used to check for complement activation, ADAMTS13 activity, von Willebrand antigen (vWFAg) levels, and soluble C5b-9 levels were measured. Patients with preeclampsia had a decreased ADAMTS13 activity and increased C5b-9 levels. The vWFAg was significantly correlated with ADAMTS13 activity (r = 0.497, p = 0.003). Risk-factor variants were found in the genes of ADAMTS13, C3, thrombomodulin, CFB, CFH, MBL2, and, finally, MASP2. A portion of pregnant women with preeclampsia showed a decline in ADAMTS13 activity, correlated with vWFAg levels. These patients also exhibited an elevated complement activation and high-risk genetic variants in regulatory genes. Further research is needed to determine if these factors can serve as reliable biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodora-Maria Venou
- Hematological Laboratory, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece (E.V.); (V.T.)
| | - Evangelia Vetsiou
- Hematological Laboratory, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece (E.V.); (V.T.)
| | - Christos Varelas
- Hematology Department, Papanicolaou General Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.V.); (E.-E.K.); (M.K.); (T.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Angelos Daniilidis
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Papageorgiou General Hospital, 56429 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Kyriakos Psarras
- 2nd Propedeutical Department of Surgery, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Evaggelia-Evdoxia Koravou
- Hematology Department, Papanicolaou General Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.V.); (E.-E.K.); (M.K.); (T.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Maria Koutra
- Hematology Department, Papanicolaou General Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.V.); (E.-E.K.); (M.K.); (T.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Tasoula Touloumenidou
- Hematology Department, Papanicolaou General Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.V.); (E.-E.K.); (M.K.); (T.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Vasilis Tsolakidis
- Hematological Laboratory, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece (E.V.); (V.T.)
| | - Apostolia Papalexandri
- Hematology Department, Papanicolaou General Hospital, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece; (C.V.); (E.-E.K.); (M.K.); (T.T.); (A.P.)
| | - Fani Minti
- Department of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Evdokia Mandala
- 4th Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
| | - Konstantinos Dinas
- 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efthymia Vlachaki
- Hematological Laboratory, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece (E.V.); (V.T.)
| | - Eleni Gavriilaki
- 2nd Propedeutical Department of Internal Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, 54642 Thessaloniki, Greece;
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Lokki AI, Ren Z, Triebwasser M, Daly E, Perola M, Auro K, Burwick R, Salmon JE, Daly M, Laivuori H, Atkinson JP, Java A, Meri S. Identification of complement factor H variants that predispose to pre-eclampsia: A genetic and functional study. BJOG 2023; 130:1473-1482. [PMID: 37156755 PMCID: PMC10592561 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to investigate the role of genetic variants in complement proteins in pre-eclampsia. DESIGN In a case-control study involving 609 cases and 2092 controls, five rare variants in complement factor H (CFH) were identified in women with severe and complicated pre-eclampsia. No variants were identified in controls. SETTING Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. Immune maladaptation, in particular, complement activation that disrupts maternal-fetal tolerance leading to placental dysfunction and endothelial injury, has been proposed as a pathogenetic mechanism, but this remains unproven. POPULATION We genotyped 609 pre-eclampsia cases and 2092 controls from FINNPEC and the national FINRISK cohorts. METHODS Complement-based functional and structural assays were conducted in vitro to define the significance of these five missense variants and each compared with wild type. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Secretion, expression and ability to regulate complement activation were assessed for factor H proteins harbouring the mutations. RESULTS We identified five heterozygous rare variants in complement factor H (L3V, R127H, R166Q, C1077S and N1176K) in seven women with severe pre-eclampsia. These variants were not identified in controls. Variants C1077S and N1176K were novel. Antigenic, functional and structural analyses established that four (R127H, R166Q, C1077S and N1176K) were deleterious. Variants R127H and C1077S were synthesised, but not secreted. Variants R166Q and N1176K were secreted normally but showed reduced binding to C3b and consequently defective complement regulatory activity. No defect was identified for L3V. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that complement dysregulation due to mutations in complement factor H is among the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying severe pre-eclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Inkeri Lokki
- Immunobiology Research Program, Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Heart and Lung Centre, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Zhen Ren
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Allergy, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Michael Triebwasser
- Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Emma Daly
- Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Markus Perola
- Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirsi Auro
- Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Richard Burwick
- Maternal Fetal Medicine, San Gabriel Valley Perinatal Medical Group, Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center, Pomona, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jane E Salmon
- Hospital for Special Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Mark Daly
- Analytic and Translational Genetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannele Laivuori
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
- Centre for Child, Adolescent, and Maternal Health Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
| | - John P Atkinson
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Anuja Java
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Seppo Meri
- Immunobiology Research Program, Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
- HUSLAB Diagnostic Centre, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
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3
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Li G, Huang S, Liu X, Du Q. Potential biomarkers and molecular mechanisms in preeclampsia progression. Open Life Sci 2022; 17:529-543. [PMID: 35647297 PMCID: PMC9123303 DOI: 10.1515/biol-2022-0053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
This study aimed to explore potential biomarkers and molecular mechanisms in preeclampsia (PE) progression. Gene expression profiles of GSE147776 and GSE96984 were downloaded, followed by the identification of common differentially expressed genes (co-DEGs) and common differentially expressed lncRNAs (co-DElncRNAs) in PE patients between the two datasets. Key genes were identified using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), followed by functional enrichment analyses. Subsequently, the miRNAs of key genes and miRNA-related lncRNAs were predicted, followed by the construction of the lncRNA–miRNA–gene ceRNA network. Furthermore, the key genes associated with different gestational stages were identified. As a result, 192 co-DEGs and 16 co-DElncRNAs were revealed from the two datasets. Based on two outstanding PE-associated pathways, including glaucoma and PE, identified by GSEA, ten key genes, including IGFBP1, CORIN, and C3, were revealed. Key genes, including IL1A and IL1B, were enriched in the developmental process involved in reproduction. Furthermore, ceRNAs, such as LINC00473-miR-4476-IL1A, LINC00473-miR-1291-IL1B, and NAV2-AS4-miR-6131-REN, were identified. Moreover, REN expression was significantly upregulated in the first- and second-trimester placentae compared to C-section-term placentae. In conclusion, these key genes may serve as novel biomarkers for PE. The detection of REN expression may help in the early prediction of PE and the initiation of prophylactic medical treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guohua Li
- Department of Reproductive Immunology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University , Shanghai , 200092 , China
| | - Shijia Huang
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University , Shanghai , 200092 , China
| | - Xiaosong Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University , Shanghai , 200092 , China
| | - Qiaoling Du
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University , Shanghai , 200092 , China
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Lokki AI, Kaartokallio T, Holmberg V, Onkamo P, Koskinen LLE, Saavalainen P, Heinonen S, Kajantie E, Kere J, Kivinen K, Pouta A, Villa PM, Hiltunen L, Laivuori H, Meri S. Analysis of Complement C3 Gene Reveals Susceptibility to Severe Preeclampsia. Front Immunol 2017; 8:589. [PMID: 28611769 PMCID: PMC5446983 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) is a common vascular disease of pregnancy with genetic predisposition. Dysregulation of the complement system has been implicated, but molecular mechanisms are incompletely understood. In this study, we determined the potential linkage of severe PE to the most central complement gene, C3. Three cohorts of Finnish patients and controls were recruited for a genetic case-control study. Participants were genotyped using Sequenom genotyping and Sanger sequencing. Initially, we studied 259 Finnish patients with severe PE and 426 controls from the Southern Finland PE and the Finnish population-based PE cohorts. We used a custom-made single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay consisting of 98 SNPs in 18 genes that encode components of the complement system. Following the primary screening, C3 was selected as the candidate gene and consequently Sanger sequenced. Fourteen SNPs from C3 were also genotyped by a Sequenom panel in 960 patients with severe PE and 705 controls, including already sequenced individuals. Three of the 43 SNPs observed within C3 were associated with severe PE: rs2287845 (p = 0.038, OR = 1.158), rs366510 (p = 0.039, OR = 1.158), and rs2287848 (p = 0.041, OR = 1.155). We also discovered 16 SNP haplotypes with extreme linkage disequilibrium in the middle of the gene with a protective (p = 0.044, OR = 0.628) or a predisposing (p = 0.011, OR = 2.110) effect to severe PE depending on the allele combination. Genetic variants associated with PE are located in key domains of C3 and could thereby influence the function of C3. This is, as far as we are aware, the first candidate gene in the complement system with an association to a clinically relevant PE subphenotype, severe PE. The result highlights a potential role for the complement system in the pathogenesis of PE and may help in defining prognostic and therapeutic subgroups of preeclamptic women.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Inkeri Lokki
- Immunobiology, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tea Kaartokallio
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ville Holmberg
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Clinic of Infectious Diseases, HYKS Inflammation Center, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Onkamo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Lotta L E Koskinen
- Immunobiology, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Päivi Saavalainen
- Immunobiology, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Seppo Heinonen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Eero Kajantie
- Chronic Disease Prevention Unit, Department of Health, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland.,Children's Hospital, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Juha Kere
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden.,Folkhälsan Institute of Genetics, Helsinki, Finland.,Molecular Neurology, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Katja Kivinen
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Anneli Pouta
- PEDEGO Research Unit, MRC Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.,Department of Government Services, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Pia M Villa
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Hannele Laivuori
- Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland, HiLIFE, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Seppo Meri
- Immunobiology, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Bacteriology and Immunology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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5
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Wu W, Yang H, Feng Y, Zhang P, Li S, Wang X, Peng T, Wang F, Xie B, Guo P, Li M, Wang Y, Zhao N, Wang D, Wang S, Zhang Y. Polymorphisms in complement genes and risk of preeclampsia in Taiyuan, China. Inflamm Res 2016; 65:837-45. [PMID: 27405496 DOI: 10.1007/s00011-016-0968-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 05/20/2016] [Accepted: 06/21/2016] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Altered immune response may be a part of the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The few epidemiologic studies that have investigated the associations between genetic variations in the complement system genes and preeclampsia risk have reached inconsistent results. The aim of this study is to determine if polymorphisms in the complement system genes could influence the risk of preeclampsia. METHODS We examined 51 SNPs in the C3, C5, C6, MASP1, MBL2 and CD55 genes and the risk of preeclampsia and its clinical subtypes in a nested case-control study of 203 preeclampsia cases and 233 controls. RESULTS Both C6 and MASP1 were associated with the risk of preeclampsia. C6 (rs7444800, rs4957381) and MASP1 (rs1108450, rs3774282, rs698106) polymorphisms were associated with the risk of early-onset preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia, while MASP1 (rs1357134, rs698090) polymorphisms were associated with the risk of late-onset preeclampsia and severe preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS Our study provided novel evidence that genetic variations in complement genes C6 and MASP1were associated with preeclampsia risk, and that the risk varied by preeclampsia subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiwei Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Hailan Yang
- Department of Obstetrics, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Yongliang Feng
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Ping Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Shuzhen Li
- Department of Information, the First Affiliated Hospital, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Taiyuan Railway Administration, Taiyuan, China
| | - Tingting Peng
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Bingjie Xie
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Pengge Guo
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Mei Li
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Nan Zhao
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Dennis Wang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Suping Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
| | - Yawei Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, Shanxi Medical University School of Public Health, 56 Xinjian South Road, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, 60 College Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
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Hahn S, Lapaire O, Than NG. Biomarker development for presymptomatic molecular diagnosis of preeclampsia: feasible, useful or even unnecessary? Expert Rev Mol Diagn 2015; 15:617-29. [PMID: 25774007 PMCID: PMC4673513 DOI: 10.1586/14737159.2015.1025757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The past decade saw the advent of a number of promising biomarkers to detect pregnancies at risk for preeclampsia (PE), the foremost being those associated with an imbalance of angiogenic factors. In late pregnancy, these are useful for the detection of imminent cases of PE, while earlier they were more predictive for early- than late-onset PE. This suggests that there may be fundamental differences between the underlying pathology of these two PE forms. Therefore, it is possible that such a biological premise may limit the development of biomarkers that will permit the efficacious detection of both early- and late-onset PE via an analysis of first-trimester maternal blood samples. Consequently, a significant increase in our understanding of the underlying pathology of PE, using a variety of approaches ranging from systems biology to animal models, will be necessary in order to overcome this obstacle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sinuhe Hahn
- Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine, Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, CH 4031 Basel, Switzerland
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