Objective: To assess HIV positivity as an apoptotic confounding variable in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia.
Methods and materials: Using a Bio-plex Multiplex Immunoassay, Smac and Lamin B concentrations (ng/ml) were analyzed in a buffy coat collected from 128 pregnant women attending a large regional hospital in Durban, South Africa. Study groups consisted of Normotensive and Preeclamptic pregnant women stratified according to their HIV status. All HIV positive groups received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
Results: Our findings showed significant (p < .05) upregulation in the levels of both SMAC and LAMIN B in the HIV positive patients and a concomitant downregulation of the same apoptotic makers were observed in preeclampsia regardless of HIV status.
Conclusions: These results could be associated with the fact that apoptosis promotes deregulation of mitochondrial dynamics, contributing to the associated severe obstetric events observed in pregnancies among HIV-infected women on HAART.
Keywords: Apoptosis; HIV; Lamin B; Smac; preeclampsia.