Relationship between insulin resistance and circulating endothelial cells in pre-eclampsia
Nick Anim-Nyame1,2, Anshuman Ghosh1,2, Nick Freestone3
1a School of Life Sciences, Kingston University London , Kingston upon Thames , UK .
Summary
Circulating endothelial cells (CEC) are elevated in pre-eclampsia but do not correlate with insulin resistance (IR). Therefore, CEC count alone is not a reliable indicator of IR in pre-eclampsia pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Cardiovascular Research
- Metabolic Disorders
Background:
- Endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance (IR) are key features of pre-eclampsia.
- Elevated circulating endothelial cells (CEC) are observed in pre-eclampsia, potentially linking to endothelial dysfunction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between CEC count and IR in pre-eclampsia.
- To determine if CEC count can serve as a simple measure of IR in pre-eclampsia.
Main Methods:
- CEC count and IR were measured in 10 pre-eclampsia patients and 10 matched normal pregnant controls.
- CEC count was assessed using immunomagnetic bead separation.
- Insulin resistance was quantified using the homeostasis model assessment (HOMA-IR).
Main Results:
- Both CEC count and IR were significantly higher in women with pre-eclampsia compared to controls.
- No significant correlation was found between CEC count and IR within the pre-eclampsia group.
Conclusions:
- While CECs are elevated in pre-eclampsia, their count does not correlate with insulin resistance.
- CEC count alone is not a suitable biomarker for assessing insulin resistance in pre-eclampsia.
