Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood cells of preeclamptic women.

OBJECTIVE

Preeclampsia is associated with platelet and endothelial dysfunction. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is found in peripheral blood leukocytes and released from platelets on activation. We analyzed the content of (VEGF) in peripheral blood cells of preeclamptic women.

METHODS

The VEGF content of platelets, mononuclear white blood cells, and granulocytes of peripheral blood were analyzed from 12 women with preeclampsia, 19 healthy pregnant women, and 20 nonpregnant women. Protein released from lysed cells was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Platelet VEGF content of preeclamptic women (0.081 ng/109 cells, 0.016 to 2.7 ng/109 cells; median, range) was similar to that of healthy pregnant women (0.31 ng/109 cells, 0.013 to 0.92 ng/109 cells) and that of nonpregnant (0.073 ng/109 cells, 0.012 to 0.76 ng/109 cells) women. Likewise, the VEGF content of granulocytes was similar in preeclamptic (18.5 ng/109 cells, 1.2 to 193 ng/109 cells), healthy pregnant (25.3 ng/109 cells, 0.8 to 441 ng/109 cells), and nonpregnant (29 ng/109 cells, 0.25 to 200 ng/109 cells) women. In mononuclear cells, the VEGF content of healthy pregnant women was higher (4.4 ng/109 cells, 0.13 to 13.7 ng/109 cells) than in nonpregnant women (1.7 ng/109 cells, 0.15 to 11.4 ng/109 cells, P < 0.05). Also, the mononuclear cell VEGF content of preeclamptic women (8.2 ng/109 cells, 0.04 to 23 ng/109 cells) tended to be higher than in nonpregnant women (P approximately 0.07).

CONCLUSION

Uncomplicated pregnancy is associated with an elevated VEGF content of mononuclear cells. Preeclampsia does not seem to affect the VEGF content of maternal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, granulocytes, or platelets.