Anti-elastin antibodies and elastin turnover in normal pregnancy and recurrent pregnancy loss

The aim of this study was to investigate elastin turnover and autoimmunity in patients with a history of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and during normal pregnancy.

Anti-alpha-elastin and anti-tropoelastin IgG and IgM antibodies were measured by a home-made ELISA in serum samples of 60 medically and obstetrically normal pregnant women, classified to three trimester groups, 18 female patients with RPL and 18 healthy non-pregnant women with a history of successful pregnancies. One way analyses of variance and Least Significant Difference method were used for a statistical analysis.

Anti-alpha-elastin IgG autoantibodies were significantly decreased in the third trimester pregnant women. IgM anti-alpha-elastin autoantibodies were significantly decreased in all pregnancy groups compared with the controls. Synthesis/degradation ratio of elastin was significantly increased in the third trimester pregnancy group, suggesting decreased elastin degradation during this period of pregnancy. Comparing the RPL patients with the healthy non-pregnant controls showed a significantly increased anti-alpha-elastin IgG antibody and significantly decreased synthesis/degradation ratio in the patient's group, suggesting increased elastin degradation in RPL.

Elastin degradation is decreased during normal pregnancy. Increased anti-elastin IgG antibodies may contribute to the pathogenesis of pregnancy losses.