Could signal peptide complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1, and epidermal growth factor-containing protein 1 be a therapeutic target in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia?

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Determination of biomolecules that play a role in the etiopathogenesis of preeclampsia and their application as therapeutic targets may increase surveillance in this patient group. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between signal peptide complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1, and epidermal growth factor-containing protein 1, a marker of endothelial dysfunction and platelet activation, and the development of preeclampsia. METHODS: In this observational cross-sectional study conducted between April 2021 and December 2022, 73 consecutive pregnant women with preeclampsia and 73 healthy pregnant women were included. Blood samples were taken from all patients with preeclampsia to measure signal peptide complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1, and epidermal growth factor-containing protein 1 levels at the time of hospitalization. Excluded from the study were pregnant women with certain medical conditions or treatments, and the signal peptide complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1, and epidermal growth factor-containing protein 1 levels of the groups were compared according to the development of preeclampsia. RESULTS: Signal peptide complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1, and epidermal growth factor-containing protein 1 levels were significantly higher in the preeclampsia group than in the controls (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, signal peptide complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1, and epidermal growth factor-containing protein 1 was determined as an independent predictor for preeclampsia (OR: 1.678, 95%CI 1.424-1.979, p<0.001). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that the best cutoff value of signal peptide complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1, and epidermal growth factor-containing protein 1 at 3.25 ng/mL predicted the development of preeclampsia with 71% sensitivity and 68% specificity (area under the curve, 0.739; 95% confidence ınterval (95%CI), 0.681-0.798, p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Signal peptide complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1, and epidermal growth factor-containing protein 1 is significantly elevated in pregnant women with preeclampsia compared with healthy controls.

Diagnostic value of serum signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 levels in patients with acute appendicitis

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: Acute appendicitis is one of the most common surgical causes of an acute abdomen among patients admitted to the emergency room due to abdominal pain. The clinical diagnosis of acute appendicitis is usually difficult and is made by evaluating the clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings together. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic potential of signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 as a biomarker for acute appendicitis. METHODS: A total of 67 adult patients without any comorbidities who presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and were clinically diagnosed with acute appendicitis were included in the case group. The patients included in the study were classified into the negative appendectomy group and the acute appendicitis group according to their histopathological final diagnosis. In addition, 48 healthy volunteers without comorbidities were included in the control group. Signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 levels of patients and the control group were measured. RESULTS: According to postoperative histopathological examinations of the patients, 7 (10.4%) patients were diagnosed with negative appendectomy, and 60 (89.6%) patients were diagnosed with acute appendicitis. Signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 levels were higher in the patients with acute appendicitis than in negative appendectomy patients (p=0.012). Signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 levels were also higher in the case group compared to the control group (p=0.001). CONCLUSION: The admission signal peptide-CUB-EGF-like domain-containing protein 1 level was significantly higher in adults with acute appendicitis. The SCUBE1 level is a novel but promising biomarker that aids in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

A new biomarker for the early diagnosis of ovarian torsion: SCUBE-1 / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: Prompt diagnosis and management are essential for saving the adnexal organs from infarction in cases of ovarian torsion (OT). This study aimed to determine the diagnostic significance of signal peptide, complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, and Bmp1 (CUB), and epidermal growth factor-like domain-containing protein-1 (SCUBE-1) levels in cases of OT, an emergent ischemic condition, and the relationship of SCUBE-1 with oxidative stress parameters. METHODS: This prospective study was conducted among 15 OT patients and 20 age- and gravidity-matched healthy women. SCUBE-1 serum concentrations were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. In addition, oxidative stress was evaluated by measuring the serum levels of advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), and glutathione (GSH). RESULTS: The SCUBE-1 titers were significantly higher in the patients with OT than in the controls (p=0.008). In addition, serum FRAP and GSH levels were significantly lower in the OT patients than in the controls (p 0.05). Furthermore, there were no correlations between SCUBE-1 levels and age, gravidity, parity, cyst size, and AOPP, FRAP, or GSH levels (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: We believe that SCUBE-1 may be a promising biomarker for the early diagnosis of OT.