ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the expression of HIF-1α protein in the placenta bed and the concentration of von Willrand factor (vWF) in maternal peripheral blood from pre-eclampsia and normal pregnancy, and to determine the effect of HIF-1α and vWF on the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. Methods Forty pre-eclampsia patients (20 mild and 20 severe) were recruited as 2 study groups, and another 20 normal pregnant women were served as a normal group.Western blot was used to detect the expression of HIF-1α protein in the placenta bed. ELISA was adopted to detect the concentration of vWF in the maternal peripheral blood.Correlation between HIF-1α protein expression and vWF level was analyzed by Spearman method.Results The expression of HIF-1α protein in the placenta bed was the highest in the severe pre-eclampsia patients among 3 groups, followed by the mild pre-eclampsia patients and the normal controls.There was significant difference (among) 3 groups (P＜0.001).The concentration of vWF in the maternal peripheral blood was the highest in the severe pre-eclampsia patients, followed by the mild pre-eclampsia patients and the normal controls.There was significant difference among the 3 groups (P＜0.05). Postive correlation was found between the expression of HIF-1α protein in the placenta bed and the concentration of vWF in the maternal peripheral blood in patients with pre-eclampsia (r_1=(0.65,) P＜(0.001)),and between the concentration of vWF in the maternal peripheral blood and the pathogenetic condition degree of pre-eclampsia (r_2=(0.61,)P＜0.001).Conclusion HIF-1α in coordination with vWF may play an important role in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.