Link between High Levels of HtrA1 Protein and Preeclampsia

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/517527/

Excerpts:

....Mayo Clinic researchers have found an association between abnormally
high levels of a protein named HtrA1 and preeclampsia, a sudden and
dangerous rise in blood pressure that can result in premature delivery,
disability or death for mother and fetus. The condition, which affects
5 to 8 percent of pregnancies worldwide, constitutes a medical
emergency and often requires a Caesarean section delivery. The
condition is estimated to cause 50,000 to 76,000 maternal deaths each
year...

....The Mayo Clinic work is the first to link high levels of HtrA1 in
third-trimester placental tissues with severe preeclampsia. The results
will be reported at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual
meeting in Miami...

....In the Mayo Clinic investigation into HtrA1 and preeclampsia,
findings suggest that the increased levels of HtrA1 impair correct
functioning during the second stage of growth of key placental cells
called cytotrophoblasts. Their job is to invade the uterus to establish
the placenta. Just how HtrA1 does this is not known. One possibility is
that its molecules "fit" into place in the molecular puzzle to
activate abnormal growth. This is theoretically possible because HtrA1
molecules are structurally similar to other molecules, insulin-like
growth factors (IGF) binding proteins, according to the Mayo Clinic
researchers. Research has shown that an excess IGF binding protein
disrupts the growth of cytotrophoblasts and also leads to the
dysfunction of the placenta and impaired fetal growth...

--
C, mama to three year old nursling

wrote:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/517527/

Excerpts:

...Mayo Clinic researchers have found an association between abnormally
high levels of a protein named HtrA1 and preeclampsia,

Isn't this an exciting time for pre-eclampsia research?!
One gets the feeling that they're finally really on to something,
and that we might have at least early detection on the horizon!

Best wishes,
Ericka

writes:
: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/517527/

: Excerpts:

: ...Mayo Clinic researchers have found an association between abnormally
: high levels of a protein named HtrA1 and preeclampsia, a sudden and
: dangerous rise in blood pressure that can result in premature delivery,
: disability or death for mother and fetus. The condition, which affects
: 5 to 8 percent of pregnancies worldwide, constitutes a medical
: emergency and often requires a Caesarean section delivery. The
: condition is estimated to cause 50,000 to 76,000 maternal deaths each
: year...

This is great news! This gives us our first real chance at finding
the mechanism by which PE gets established, and show a road forward
to finding a solution. Hats off to Mayo. Keep up the good work!

Larry

Ericka Kammerer wrote:
wrote:
http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/517527/

Excerpts:

...Mayo Clinic researchers have found an association between abnormally
high levels of a protein named HtrA1 and preeclampsia,

Isn't this an exciting time for pre-eclampsia research?!
One gets the feeling that they're finally really on to something,
and that we might have at least early detection on the horizon!

Pretty much everything since early 2003 has looked better and better.
The initial sFlt-1 study was accepted for publication the day I
transfered into the hospital. :-D

--
C, mama to three year old nursling