Elevated serum cathepsin B concentration in pregnant women is associated with preeclampsia

Expression and significance of cathepsin C and cathepsin D during pregnancy and Preeclampsia

BACKGROUND

Cathepsin C (Cat C) is involved in the inflammatory-immune system and can be degraded by cathepsin D (Cat D). Preeclampsia (PE) and the inflammation-immunity relationship is currently a hot research topic, but there are still few studies. The aim was to investigate the expression and significance of Cat C and D in the serum of nonpregnant women, patients in various stages of pregnancy and patients with PE, and in the placenta of patients with normal pregnancy and PE.

METHODS

Sixty young healthy nonpregnant women were selected: 180 normal pregnant women, including 60 each in the first, second, and third trimesters, and 100 women with PE, including 39 women with severe preeclampsia. The levels of Cat C and D in serum were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the expression levels of Cat C and D in placentas were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

The serum of Cat C in the first trimester was significantly lower than that in the nonpregnant group (P < 0.001), whereas Cat D was significantly higher than that in the nonpregnant group (P < 0.01). The levels of Cat C and D in the second trimester and third trimester were significantly higher than those in the first trimester (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in Cat C and D between the second trimester and third trimester. The levels of Cat C in the serum and placentas of patients with PE were significantly higher than those in the third trimester (P < 0.001) and positively correlated with the severity of PE (P < 0.001), whereas the levels of Cat D in the serum and placentas of patients with PE were significantly lower than those in the third trimester (P < 0.001) and negatively correlated with the severity of PE (P < 0.001). Age, primigravida proportion, and body mass index were significantly higher in the PE group than in the control group (P < 0.05), which were high-risk factors for PE.

CONCLUSIONS

Cat C and D are associated with the maintenance of normal pregnancy. In patients with preeclampsia, a significant increase in Cat C and a significant decrease in Cat D levels may lead to the occurrence and development of preeclampsia.

Serum sFlt-1, cystatin C and cathepsin B are potential severity markers in preeclampsia: a pilot study

PURPOSE

Preeclampsia is associated with abnormal invasion of the trophoblast through decidua and subsequently altered remodeling of the maternal spiral arteries and endothelial dysfunction. This phenomenon is explained by the dysregulation of various kinds of vascular factors and proteases. The purpose of this study was to compare the circulating levels of sFlt-1, cathepsin B, and cystatin C in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies.

STUDY DESIGN

Sixty-two pregnant women were enrolled in this prospective study. Twenty women were preeclamptic and 42 were normotensive. Serum levels of sFlt-1, cathepsin B, and cystatin C were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit.

RESULTS

Circulating levels of sFlt-1, cathepsin B, and cystatin C were significantly higher in preeclamptic than in normotensive pregnant women (p < 0.001; p = 0.017; p = 0.003). Preeclamptic women with severe features demonstrated significantly higher levels of cathepsin B (p = 0.05). Serum sFlt-1 and cystatin C levels were positively correlated with elevated systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The levels of cathepsin B were positively correlated with alanine and aspartate aminotransferase. The amount of 24 h proteinuria was positively, but non-significantly correlated with sFlt-1 and cystatin C.

CONCLUSIONS

In addition to sFlt-1 levels, the serum levels of cathepsin B and cystatin C significantly change when preeclampsia develops. These markers are associated with severity markers of elevated blood pressure and liver injury in preeclampsia.

Evaluation of serum cathepsin B, D, and L concentrations in women with late-onset preeclampsia

Objective:

The aim of the study was to assess serum cathepsin B, D, and L concentrations in women with late-onset preeclampsia.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred forty pregnant women were enrolled in the study, of which 100 subjects were preeclamptic and 40 were healthy controls. Serum concentrations of cathepsin B, D, and L were measured and compared between the preeclamptic and control groups.

Results:

Cathepsin B and D concentrations were significantly higher in the preeclamptic group compared with the control group. There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in terms of cathepsin L concentrations. Cathepsin B concentrations were significantly higher in women with preeclampsia with severe features compared with those with preeclampsia alone.

Conclusion:

Women with late-onset preeclampsia have significantly higher serum cathepsin B and D concentrations than controls. Cathepsin B and D may be promising biomarkers in women with late-onset preeclampsia.

Role of proteases in dysfunctional placental vascular remodelling in preeclampsia

Preeclampsia is a syndrome characterised by vascular dysfunction, impaired angiogenesis, and hypertension during pregnancy. Even when the precise pathophysiology of preeclampsia remains elusive, impaired vascular remodelling and placental angiogenesis in the placental villi and defective trophoblast invasion of the uterus are proposed as crucial mechanisms in this syndrome. Reduced trophoblast invasion leads to reduced uteroplacental blood flow and oxygen availability and increased oxidative stress. These phenomena trigger the release of soluble factors into the maternal and foetoplacental circulation that are responsible of the clinical features of preeclampsia. New blood vessels generation as well as vascular remodelling are mechanisms that require expression and activity of different proteases, including matrix metalloproteases, a-disintegrin and metalloproteases, and a-disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin motifs. These proteases exert proteolysis of the extracellular matrix. Additionally, cathepsins, a family of proteolytic enzymes, are primarily located in lysosomes but are also released by cells to the extracellular space. This review focuses on the role that these proteases play in the regulation of the uterine trophoblast invasion and the placental vascular remodelling associated with preeclampsia.