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Biochemical markers in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia: novel link between placental growth factor and interleukin-6

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Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem disorder of pregnancy characterized by sudden onset of hypertension and proteinuria. The appearance and diagnosis of the disease remain elusive and the only treatment is the termination of pregnancy. The onset of the disease is preceded by a shift in the balance of the angiogenic and antiangiogenic proteins in the maternal circulation. We surmised that the assessment of the levels of these proteins during pregnancy could lead to a proper diagnosis of the disease. In this study, we determined the levels of angiogenic and antiangiogenic proteins and IL-6 in maternal circulation during normotensive and hypertensive pregnancy, including PE. Serum isolated from pregnant women during antenatal visits was used to determine the concentrations of these proteins. The levels of antiangiogenic proteins, sFlt-1 and sEng, were higher in hypertensive disorders [gestational hypertension (GH), mild PE, and PE] of pregnancy and were significantly higher for PE than for GH. The levels of sFlt-1 and sEng were higher in PE samples compared to those in GH and NT samples. These proteins may have contributed to increased blood pressure. The levels of PlGF were decreased in pregnant women having GH, mild PE, and PE. The levels of the inflammatory intermediate, IL-6, were increased in PE samples compared to those in the GH and normotensive samples. The evaluation of the altered levels of antiangiogenic and angiogenic proteins can be useful for diagnosis of PE.

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Funding

This work was supported by Department of Biotechnology, DBT, Ministry of Science of Technology, Government of India through Research Grant (BT/PR5039/SPD/11/1395/2012 to the PI, AHS, and Co-PI, NA). RN was provided research fellowship as Project Assistant by the DBT Grant and under the UPE-2, sanctioned to University of Hyderabad by the UGC. The University of Hyderabad provided funding for various infrastructural facilities and consumables under the DST-PURSE 2 program by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medical Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Professor C. R. Rao Road, Gachibowli, Hyderabad, TS, 500046, India

    Rahul Negi & Athar H. Siddiqui

  2. Fernandez Hosp Educational & Research Foundation, Bogulkunta, Hyderabad, TS, 500001, India

    Vemanamanda Haritha & Nuzhat Aziz

Authors
  1. Rahul Negi
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  2. Vemanamanda Haritha
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  3. Nuzhat Aziz
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  4. Athar H. Siddiqui
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Contributions

AHS and NA contributed to conceptualization, AHS, NA, RN, and VH contributed to methodology, AHS and NA performed validation, RN, AHS, VH, and NA performed formal analysis, RN, AS, VH, and NA contributed to investigation, AHS and NA acquired resources, AHS, RN, VH, and NA performed data curation, RN, NA and AHS contributed to writing of the original draft, AHS and NA performed supervision, AHS and NA contributed to writing, reviewing, & editing of the manuscript. All authors read and approved their specific contributions.

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Correspondence to Athar H. Siddiqui.

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Ethics no: UH/IEC/11/16-(R-1) (Athar H Siddiqui) and EC Ref # 1_2012 R1.

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Negi, R., Haritha, V., Aziz, N. et al. Biochemical markers in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia: novel link between placental growth factor and interleukin-6. Mol Cell Biochem 477, 1765–1774 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-022-04403-6

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