Potential predictive role of Galectins 13 and 14 in preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsiais a pregnancy-specific disease, whichaffectsapproximately5%ofallpregnancies and characterized by hypertension(bloodpressure≥140/90mmHg),aswellasasystemic disease, which is commonly accompanied by proteinuria (≥300 mg/24-h urine collection). It occurs after 20 weeks ofgestation,isaleadingcauseoffetalandmaternalmorbidity and mortality and may be characterized by abnormal placental vessel formation(placental preeclampsia), or by endothelial dysfunction that predates pregnancy in women with preexisting hypertension, diabetes, or obesity (maternal preeclampsia).The etiologic factors causing this disease are still not completely clear, although evidence support involvement of genetic, immune, angiogenic, and other mechanisms. Pentraxin (PTX3) is a recently described inflammatory molecule that belongs to the same family of the well-known C-reactive protein(CRP). PTX3 differs from CRP in terms of cellular origin, molecular inducers, and kinetic of production. It is expressed by different cells like endothelial cells, monocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts exposed to inflammatory stimuli. Placental protein 13 (PP13) is a member