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Decreased Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and increased Natural Killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood as possible early markers of preeclampsia: a case-control analysis

  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • Published:
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and Natural Killer (NK) cells were recently advocates in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE), since they can be mobilized into the bloodstream and may orchestrate vascular endothelium function. The aim of our study was to evaluate in early pregnancy circulating EPCs and NK cells in peripheral blood in women who later developed PE compared to uncomplicated pregnancies.

Methods

We prospectively enrolled pregnant women at 9+0–11+6 weeks of gestation at the time of first-trimester integrated screening for trisomy 21, who underwent peripheral venous blood (20 mL) sample. We included only women who later developed PE (cases) and women with uncomplicated pregnancy (controls), matched for maternal age, parity, and Body Mass Index. In these groups, we evaluated the levels of CD16+CD45+CD56+ NK cells and CD34+CD133+VEGF-R2+ EPCs in peripheral blood samples previously stored.

Results

EPCs were significantly lower (p < 0.001), whereas NK cells were significantly higher (p < 0.001) in PE group compared to uncomplicated pregnancies during the first trimester.

Conclusion

The evaluation of EPCs and NK cells in peripheral blood during the first trimester may be considered an effective screening for the early identification of women at risk of developing PE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unit of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “G. Barresi”, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Antonio Simone Laganà, Domenico Giordano, Giuseppe Zoccali, Salvatore Giovanni Vitale, Angelo Santamaria & Rosario D’Anna

  2. Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, Messina, Italy

    Saverio Loddo & Michele Buemi

Authors
  1. Antonio Simone Laganà
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  2. Domenico Giordano
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  3. Saverio Loddo
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  4. Giuseppe Zoccali
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  5. Salvatore Giovanni Vitale
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  6. Angelo Santamaria
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  7. Michele Buemi
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  8. Rosario D’Anna
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Correspondence to Antonio Simone Laganà.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Laganà, A.S., Giordano, D., Loddo, S. et al. Decreased Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) and increased Natural Killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood as possible early markers of preeclampsia: a case-control analysis. Arch Gynecol Obstet 295, 867–872 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4296-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00404-017-4296-x

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