The relationship between Activin A and anti-angiogenic factors in the development of pre-eclampsia

Seshini Gurusinghe; Euan M Wallace; Rebecca Lim

doi:10.1016/j.preghy.2013.09.002

The relationship between Activin A and anti-angiogenic factors in the development of pre-eclampsia

Pregnancy Hypertens. 2014 Jan;4(1):3-6. doi: 10.1016/j.preghy.2013.09.002. Epub 2013 Sep 17.

Authors

Seshini Gurusinghe¹, Euan M Wallace², Rebecca Lim³

Affiliations

¹ The Ritchie Centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia.
² The Ritchie Centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Monash University, Australia.
³ The Ritchie Centre, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Monash University, Australia. Electronic address: rebecca.lim@monash.edu.

PMID: 26104245
DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2013.09.002

Abstract

Anti-angiogenic factors such as sFlt/sEng contribute to the pathology seen in preeclampsia. Activin A, which is released by the placenta following exposure to oxidative stress and elevated in preeclampsia, may interact with sFlt/sEng during the disease process. Using placental explant cultures, we determined that transcription of sFLT1, ENG and INHBA was upregulated following exposure to oxidative stress or IL-6. Explants treated with Activin A did not increase transcription of sFLT1, ENG. Conversely, treatment of placental explants with sFlt/sEng did not increase transcription of INHBA. These data may suggest that Activin A and sFlt/sEng contribute to preeclampsia via separate pathways.

Keywords: Inflammation; Oxidative stress; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy.