Disturbed Feto-Maternal Cell Traffic in Preeclampsia

Abstract

These results suggest that the trafficking of fetal cells into the maternal periphery is disturbed in patients with preeclampsia. Because it is unlikely that such an altered flow of cells is restricted to the erythroblasts examined in this study, these findings also may lead to interesting new concepts regarding the development of preeclampsia and possibly the associated syndrome of hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets.

Fetal Fraction in Maternal Plasma Cell-Free DNA at 11–13 Weeks’ Gestation: Effect of Maternal and Fetal Factors

“…In such cases, impaired trophoblastic invasion of the maternal spiral arteries leads to placental ischemia and damage. Increased fetal cfDNA could be released into the maternal circulation either from dying cells in the placenta and/or fetal cells and microvilli whose escape into the maternal circulation is increased in preeclampsia [26,27,28,29,30]. …”

Fetal hemoglobin-expressing nucleated red blood cell frequencies in pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction

“…Placentas examined from growth-restricted, preterm pregnancies with severe compromise of the umbilical blood¯ow have been shown to have a reduced amount and proliferation of villous cytotrophoblast, together with increased deposition of stromal extracellular matrix (Macara et al, 1996). This abnormal placentation, such as can also be found in pre-eclampsia (Clayton et al, 1964;Holzgreve et al, 1998), may result in different barrier mechanisms in the placental bed, allowing for increased feto-maternal cell traf®c and an increased frequency of fetal NRBC in the maternal circulation.…”

“…These efforts have also promoted interest in bidirectional cell traf®c between the fetus and mother (Dennis Lo et al, 1996). Disturbed cell traf®c, especially of nucleated red blood cells (NRBC), has been implied in speci®c disorders of pregnancy such as pre-eclampsia Holzgreve et al, 1998). The aim of this study was to investigate whether, in cases of abnormal placentation resulting in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), disturbances in feto-maternal cell traf®c are evident.…”

Biomarkers in Neonatology: The Next Generation of Tests

“…Also, positive identification of the DNA sequence of autosomal dominant diseases, such as Huntington’s chorea [30] and myotonic dystrophy [31], accurately indicates inheritance of the disease in the fetus, though a negative survey does not rule out the possibility of inheritance if the mother is a carrier. Further, an elevation of fetal DNA concentration in maternal blood may precede the onset of symptoms in pre-eclampsia [32,33] and preterm labour [34], presumably due to increased fetal cellular trafficking or decreased fetal DNA clearance in pregnancies with complications [35,36]. Thus, recent advances in the evolution of circulating cell-free DNA as molecular biomarkers have opened up a new avenue for future assessment of inherited diseases in utero.…”