ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to compare serum concentrations of VEGF, placental growth facto r(PlGF), soluble VEGF receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and the expression of VEGF-A in placental tissue from preeclamptic pregnancy with normal pregnancy. METHODS: From pregnant women with (n=46) and without (n=40) preeclampsia, maternal serum in third trimester and placental tissue at delivery were collected. The serum concentrations of VEGF, PlGF, and sVEGFR-1 were measured. The expression levels of VEGF-A protein in placenta were assessed using Western blot. RESULTS: The concentrations of total VEGF, PlGF were significantly decreased and that of sVEGFR-1 was significantly increased in patients with preeclampsia. The expression of VEGF-A protein was lower in preeclamptic placenta than in control placenta, but there was no significant difference. CONCLUSION: The abnormality of angiogenic factors (VEGF, PlGF, sVEGFR-1) may be important in the development of pathophysiology of preeclampsia. An elevation of sVEGFR-1 may lead to suppression of VEGF and PlGF effects, and also the down-regulation of VEGF-A protein in placenta may result in the decreased maternal vascular adaptation to pregnancy.