Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 5, 2026
Author Spotlight: Modeling an Aspect of Preeclampsia in Female Mice Using Hypoxic Human Placenta-Derived Small Extracellular Vesicles
Published on: January 26, 2024
Serum amphiregulin and cerebellin-1 levels in severe preeclampsia
Özlem Güler1, Alev Özer2, Muhammet Seyithanoğlu3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University School of Medicine, Kahramanmaras, Turkey.
Insights
Serum amphiregulin levels are significantly lower in patients with severe preeclampsia compared to healthy pregnant women and controls. This finding may aid in understanding preeclampsia pathogenesis and diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive Biology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Preeclampsia is a serious hypertensive disorder of pregnancy.
- It is characterized by new-onset hypertension and proteinuria or end-organ damage after 20 weeks gestation.
- Preeclampsia poses significant risks for maternal and infant mortality, with undefined etiopathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare serum levels of amphiregulin and cerebellin-1 in severe preeclampsia patients.
- To compare these levels with those in healthy pregnant women and non-pregnant controls.
Main Methods:
- The study included 88 women: 28 with severe preeclampsia, 30 healthy non-pregnant controls, and 30 healthy pregnant women.
- Participants were matched for age, and pregnant groups were matched for gestational age.
- Serum amphiregulin and cerebellin-1 levels were quantified using ELISA.
Main Results:
- Serum amphiregulin levels were significantly lower in severe preeclampsia patients compared to both healthy pregnant women (p=.008) and controls (p=.015).
- No significant difference in amphiregulin levels was observed between healthy controls and healthy pregnant women (p=1.00).
- Cerebellin-1 levels did not differ significantly among the three groups (p=.272).
- A significant positive correlation between serum amphiregulin and cerebellin-1 was found in all groups.
- Serum amphiregulin levels ≤3590 pg/ml showed 67.9% sensitivity and 63.3% specificity for preeclampsia diagnosis (AUC: 0.751).
Conclusions:
- Serum amphiregulin levels are decreased in patients with severe preeclampsia.
- Amphiregulin may play a role in preeclampsia pathogenesis.
- Further research is warranted to explore amphiregulin's diagnostic and prognostic potential in preeclampsia.
Purpose:
Preeclampsia is a form of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and defined as the presence of new-onset hypertension and proteinuria or other end organ damage occurring after 20-week gestation. Preeclampsia can be a destructive process that can cause maternal and infant mortality. The exact etiopathogenesis of preeclampsia is still undefined. We aimed to compare serum amphiregulin and cerebellin-1 levels of severe preeclampsia patients with healthy pregnant women and healthy control subjects.
Materials And Methods:
A total of 88 women were enrolled in this study. Patients diagnosed with severe preeclampsia were group 1 (n = 28), healthy non-pregnant normotensive women group 2 (n = 30), and healthy pregnant women group 3 (n = 30). The participants in each group were matched for age. Pregnant women in groups 1 and 3 were also matched for gestational age. Serum amphiregulin and cerebellin-1 levels were measured using ELISA.
Results:
Serum amphiregulin levels were 3413 ± 1.38 ng/ml (1748-7739), 8510 ± 7213 ng/ml (2019-24,000), and 6580 ± 5360 ng/ml (2484-24,000) in preeclampsia patients, controls and healthy pregnant women, respectively. Amphiregulin levels were significantly lower in preeclampsia patients than healthy pregnant women (p=.008) and controls (p = .015). Amphiregulin levels were similar between healthy controls and healthy pregnant women (p = 1.00). Cerebellin-1 levels were 222.039 ± 92.681 pg/ml (138,580-557,757) in preeclamptic patients, 537.043 ± 525.117 pg/ml (150,432-1,600,000) in controls and 415.091 ± 436.580 pg/ml (137,284-1,600,000) in healthy pregnant women. Cerebellin-1 levels were similar among groups (p = .272). Serum amphiregulin and cerebellin-1 levels were significantly and positively correlated with each other in preeclampsia patients (r = 0.693, p < .001), controls (r = 0.882, p < .001), and healthy pregnant women (r = 0.591, p = .001). Serum level of amphiregulin ≤3590 pg/ml had a sensitivity of 67.9% and specificity of 63.3% in the diagnosis of preeclampsia (AUC: 0.751; p = .001).
Conclusions:
Serum amphiregulin decreases in severe preeclampsia patients.
Related Concept Videos
01:33Hormonal Regulation
01:24Serum Studies: Renal Function Tests