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Calreticulin in human pregnancy and pre-eclampsia
V Y Gu1, M H Wong, J L Stevenson
1Department of Perinatal Medicine, Pregnancy Research Centre, Royal Women's Hospital, 132 Grattan Street, Carlton, VIC 3053, Australia.
Molecular Human Reproduction
|April 18, 2008
Summary
Calreticulin levels significantly increase in maternal blood during normal pregnancy and are further elevated in pre-eclampsia. This protein
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Immunology
Background:
- Pre-eclampsia is a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria.
- Endothelial cell activation is implicated in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.
- Calreticulin is a multifunctional protein with known inflammatory effects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of calreticulin in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.
- To measure calreticulin expression in maternal blood and placenta.
Main Methods:
- Quantification of plasma calreticulin levels in non-pregnant, first-trimester, second-trimester, term pregnant, and pre-eclamptic women.
- Assessment of calreticulin mRNA and protein expression in placental tissue from pre-eclamptic and control pregnancies.
Main Results:
- Plasma calreticulin showed a 5-fold increase in term pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women.
- Plasma calreticulin levels remained stable throughout normal gestation (first trimester to term).
- Pre-eclamptic women exhibited a significant 50% increase in plasma calreticulin compared to controls.
- Placental calreticulin mRNA and protein expression did not differ between pre-eclamptic and control pregnancies.
Conclusions:
- Calreticulin is elevated in maternal peripheral blood early in pregnancy and remains high throughout gestation.
- A further increase in maternal plasma calreticulin is observed in pre-eclampsia.
- Placental calreticulin expression is not altered in pre-eclampsia, suggesting peripheral blood elevation is key.
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