Plasma biomarkers for the identification of women at risk for early-onset preeclampsia

TLDR

The study aims to identify first‑trimester plasma biomarkers that predict early‑onset preeclampsia and to evaluate their potential for early screening. The authors followed pregnant women to delivery and compared plasma protein profiles of five EOPE cases and five controls using 2‑DE and MALDI‑TOF‑TOF mass spectrometry. Twelve plasma proteins were differentially expressed in women who later developed EOPE, with six up‑regulated (A1AT, CD5L, K1C9, MNDA, TRFE, VTDB) and six down‑regulated (FETUA, APOH, CFAB, HPT, VTNC, ZA2G), confirming their potential as early‑screening biomarkers.

Abstract

To identify potential biomarkers in the 1st trimester of pregnancy for the identification of women destined to develop early onset preeclampsia (EOPE).Blood samples were obtained from pregnant women at 11-13 weeks of gestation. Women were followed up until delivery. Five samples from EOPE complicated pregnancies and 5 from unaffected ones were analysed using 2-DE and MALDI-TOF-TOF MS/MS. The altered expression of selected proteins was verified by ELISA in an extended sample cohort.Twelve proteins were differentially expressed in the plasma of women who subsequently developed EOPE as compared to controls. Alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT), CD5 antigen-like molecule (CD5L) Keratin, type I cytoskeletal 9 (K1C9), Myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA), Transferrin (TRFE) and Vitamin D-binding protein (VTDB) were up-regulated with fold changes 3.14, 2.18, 1.53, 1.53, 4.26 3.38 respectively, whereas Alpha-2-HS-glycoprotein (FETUA), Beta-2-glycoprotein 1 (APOH), Complement factor B (CFAB), Haptoglobin (HPT), Vitronectin (VTNC) and Zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein (ZA2G) were down-regulated with fold changes -0.38, -0.76, -0.24, -0.47, -0.23, and -0.50 respectively. The down-regulation of APOH, VTNC and HPT was verified using ELISA.The differentially expressed proteins represent potential biomarkers for the early screening for EOPE. Follow-up experiments however are necessary for evaluation.