Soluble and Membranous Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 in Pregnancies Complicated by Pre-Eclampsia.
10.3349/ymj.2009.50.5.656
- Author:
Richa TRIPATHI
1
;
Gayatri RATH
;
Ranju RALHAN
;
Sunita SAXENA
;
Sudha SALHAN
Author Information
1. Department of Anatomy, VMMC & Safdarjang Hospital, New Delhi, India. richa.trpth@gmail.com
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Pre-eclampsia;
soluble and membranous VEGFR-2;
ELISA;
immunohistochemistry
- MeSH:
Adult;
Cross-Sectional Studies;
Down-Regulation;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay;
Female;
Humans;
Immunohistochemistry;
Placenta/metabolism;
Pre-Eclampsia/*blood/metabolism;
Pregnancy;
Pregnancy Trimester, Third;
Sensitivity and Specificity;
Solubility;
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/*blood/metabolism
- From:Yonsei Medical Journal
2009;50(5):656-666
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: There is a paucity of information on the serum soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (sVEGFR-2) concentrations, membranous VEGFR-2 expression and the mechanism involved in their modulations during the clinical onset of pre-eclampsia. This cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the concentration of sVEGFR-2 in serum and to investigate the expression of membranous VEGFR-2 in placentae of pre-eclampsia group. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The serum levels of sVEGFR-2 (n = 120) and the expression of membranous VEGFR-2 in placentae (n = 100) were analysed at third trimester of pregnancy by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry respectively. The diagnostic parameters of sensitivity, specificity and association of soluble and membranous VEGFR-2 in these patients were evaluated. RESULTS: The serum levels of sVEGFR-2 in pre-eclampsia patients were found to be significantly reduced (p = 0.01, p = 0.001) in early and late pre-eclamptic sub-groups as compared to their respective third trimester control sub-groups. Also, the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed a cut-off value of 7350.4 pg/mL, higher sensitivity (76%) and specificity (76%) for sVEGFR-2 in late onset (> 34 weeks) pre-eclamptic group. Significant down-regulation of membranous VEGFR-2 immunoreactivity was observed in all the placental cells (p = 0.0001) at > 34 weeks preeclamptic group. CONCLUSION: The reduced serum levels of soluble VEGFR-2 and the down-regulated expression of membranous VEGFR-2 in the study group denoted abnormality in VEGF mediated placental function in all placental cells and thus VEGFR-2 may be a key factor, intimately associated with pre-eclampsia. This study shows the clinical utility of soluble and membranous VEGFR-2 in pre-eclampsia patients.
