Changes in endothelial cell specific molecule 1 plasma levels during preeclamptic pregnancies compared to healthy pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to assess the levels of endothelial cell specific molecule 1 (ESM-1) during pregnancy and preeclampsia.


METHODS
Plasma and placental samples were collected from women with a control pregnancy, early- or late-onset preeclamptic women and non-pregnant women (experiment 1). Plasma samples were collected between weeks 12 and birth from pregnant women at high risk for developing preeclampsia (experiment 2). ESM-1 plasma levels were measured by ELISA and in the placenta mRNA and protein were detected by immunohistochemistry and qPCR.


RESULTS
In the first experiment we observed lower concentrations of ESM-1 in pregnant women as compared to non-pregnant women and higher concentrations during early- and late-onset preeclampsia as compared to control pregnancies of the same gestational age. Early- and late-onset preeclamptic pregnancies were not different from their subsequent controls in ESM-1 mRNA or protein levels in placental tissue. The second experiment showed that in women who had an control pregnancy, plasma ESM-1 levels were decreased as compared to non-pregnant women, from week 16 ± 2 until the end of pregnancy and returned to non-pregnant levels postpartum. In women who developed early- or late-onset preeclampsia, plasma ESM-1 was also decreased as compared to non-pregnant women from week 20 ± 2 until week 28 ± 2 of pregnancy. Then ESM-1 levels increased and were no longer different from levels in non-pregnant women on weeks 32 and 36.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma ESM-1 levels are decreased during pregnancy and increased in early- and late-onset preeclampsia. The source of ESM-1 is probably not the placenta, but most likely maternal endothelial cells.
['Schuitemaker|Joost H N|JHN|', 'Cremers|Thomas I F H|TIFH|', 'Van Pampus|Maria G|MG|', 'Scherjon|Sicco A|SA|', 'Faas|Marijke M|MM|']
D000328:Adult D015415:Biomarkers D001794:Blood Pressure D016022:Case-Control Studies D042783:Endothelial Cells D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay D005260:Female D006801:Humans D009363:Neoplasm Proteins D010920:Placenta D049590:Postpartum Period D011225:Pre-Eclampsia D011247:Pregnancy D011509:Proteoglycans D012333:RNA, Messenger D013997:Time Factors D015854:Up-Regulation D055815:Young Adult
Endothelial cell specific molecule 1 Pregnancy ESM-1 Preeclampsia Endocan