Relationship between the concentration of ergothioneine in plasma and the likelihood of developing pre-eclampsia

Abstract

Ergothioneine, an antioxidant nutraceutical mainly at present derived from the dietary intake of mushrooms, has been suggested as a preventive for pre-eclampsia. We analysed early pregnancy samples from a cohort of 432 first time mothers as part of the Screening for Endpoints in Pregnancy (SCOPE, European branch) project to determine the concentration of ergothioneine in their plasma. There was a weak association between the ergothioneine levels and maternal age, but none for BMI. Of these 432 women, 97 went on to develop pre-term (23) or term (74) pre-eclampsia. If a threshold was set at the 90th percentile of the reference range in the control population (≥ 462 ng/mL), only one of these 97 women (1%) developed pre-eclampsia, versus 96/397 (24.2%) whose ergothioneine level was below this threshold. One possible interpretation of these findings, consistent with previous experiments in a reduced uterine perfusion model in rats, is that ergothioneine may indeed prove protective against pre-eclampsia in humans. An intervention study of some kind now seems warranted.

Alterations in the Plasma Metabolome Associated With Maternal Smoking During the First Trimester and Foetal Growth

“…Moreover, smokers displayed lowered plasma levels of ergothioneine, which is a microbiota-associated antioxidant. Earlier studies have shown that low levels of ergothioneine during pregnancy are associated with negative pregnancy outcomes like pre-eclampsia [27]. Conversely, high ergothioneine levels are associated with health benefits like protection against cardiovascular diseases [28], and this seems to be the case for biliverdin and bilirubin [29], implying that this protective mechanism has become impaired in smokers.…”

Alterations in the Plasma Metabolome Associated With Maternal Smoking During the First Trimester and Foetal Growth

“…Moreover, smokers displayed lowered plasma levels of ergothioneine, which is a microbiota-associated antioxidant. Earlier studies have shown that low levels of ergothioneine during pregnancy are associated with negative pregnancy outcomes like pre-eclampsia [27]. Conversely, high ergothioneine levels are associated with health benefits like protection against cardiovascular diseases [28], and this seems to be the case for biliverdin and bilirubin [29], implying that this protective mechanism has become impaired in smokers.…”

The Biology and Biochemistry of Kynurenic Acid, a Potential Nutraceutical with Multiple Biological Effects

“…In particular, nutraceuticals, molecules that influence health positively and that might be part of or added to a ‘healthy diet’, are seen as a contributor. Ergothioneine (ERG), a potent and effective antioxidant, seems to be one [ 1 , 18 , 29 , 508 , 791 , 792 ], with experimental evidence and ongoing studies for this continuing to emerge (e.g., [ 320 , 793 ]), and we here make the case that KYNA is another. It is instructive to provide a comparison of the two molecules, and Table 14 does so.…”

“…Concentrations in the plasma of the nutraceutical ergothioneine are typically 1–4 μM (~229–916 ng/mL) (e.g., [ 319 , 320 ]), and are ~10-fold higher in whole blood as ergothioneine is concentrated in erythrocytes [ 18 ]. In contrast, KYNA concentrations in plasma and serum are some 1–2 orders of magnitude lower ( Table 2 ).…”

Characterization of Bioactive Compounds in Spent Mushroom Substrate: A Metabolomic Perspective on Its Untapped Potential

“…Mushrooms are recognized as the richest dietary source of EGT, although its content varies greatly with species [ 19 ]. EGT exhibits strong antioxidant and cytoprotective properties and has been associated with neuroprotection [ 20 ], cardiovascular health [ 21 ], maternal health during pregnancy [ 22 ], and aging-related outcomes [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. It is taken up by the human body via the OCTN1 transporter and is suggested to accumulate in all tissues but preferentially to those predisposed to oxidative stress, including the brain, suggesting a role in neurodegenerative disease prevention [ 20 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Alterations in the Plasma Metabolome Associated With Maternal Smoking During the First Trimester and Foetal Growth

“…Moreover, smokers displayed lowered plasma levels of ergothioneine, which is a microbiota-associated antioxidant. Earlier studies have shown that low levels of ergothioneine during pregnancy are associated with negative pregnancy outcomes like pre-eclampsia [27]. Conversely, high ergothioneine levels are associated with health benefits like protection against cardiovascular diseases [28], and this seems to be the case for biliverdin and bilirubin [29], implying that this protective mechanism has become impaired in smokers.…”

The Biology and Biochemistry of Kynurenic Acid, a Potential Nutraceutical with Multiple Biological Effects

“…In particular, nutraceuticals, molecules that influence health positively and that might be part of or added to a ‘healthy diet’, are seen as a contributor. Ergothioneine (ERG), a potent and effective antioxidant, seems to be one [ 1 , 18 , 29 , 508 , 791 , 792 ], with experimental evidence and ongoing studies for this continuing to emerge (e.g., [ 320 , 793 ]), and we here make the case that KYNA is another. It is instructive to provide a comparison of the two molecules, and Table 14 does so.…”

“…Concentrations in the plasma of the nutraceutical ergothioneine are typically 1–4 μM (~229–916 ng/mL) (e.g., [ 319 , 320 ]), and are ~10-fold higher in whole blood as ergothioneine is concentrated in erythrocytes [ 18 ]. In contrast, KYNA concentrations in plasma and serum are some 1–2 orders of magnitude lower ( Table 2 ).…”

Characterization of Bioactive Compounds in Spent Mushroom Substrate: A Metabolomic Perspective on Its Untapped Potential

“…Mushrooms are recognized as the richest dietary source of EGT, although its content varies greatly with species [ 19 ]. EGT exhibits strong antioxidant and cytoprotective properties and has been associated with neuroprotection [ 20 ], cardiovascular health [ 21 ], maternal health during pregnancy [ 22 ], and aging-related outcomes [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. It is taken up by the human body via the OCTN1 transporter and is suggested to accumulate in all tissues but preferentially to those predisposed to oxidative stress, including the brain, suggesting a role in neurodegenerative disease prevention [ 20 , 26 , 27 ].…”

Alterations in the Plasma Metabolome Associated With Maternal Smoking During the First Trimester and Foetal Growth

“…Moreover, smokers displayed lowered plasma levels of ergothioneine, which is a microbiota-associated antioxidant. Earlier studies have shown that low levels of ergothioneine during pregnancy are associated with negative pregnancy outcomes like pre-eclampsia [27]. Conversely, high ergothioneine levels are associated with health benefits like protection against cardiovascular diseases [28], and this seems to be the case for biliverdin and bilirubin [29], implying that this protective mechanism has become impaired in smokers.…”

The Biology and Biochemistry of Kynurenic Acid, a Potential Nutraceutical with Multiple Biological Effects

“…In particular, nutraceuticals, molecules that influence health positively and that might be part of or added to a ‘healthy diet’, are seen as a contributor. Ergothioneine (ERG), a potent and effective antioxidant, seems to be one [ 1 , 18 , 29 , 508 , 791 , 792 ], with experimental evidence and ongoing studies for this continuing to emerge (e.g., [ 320 , 793 ]), and we here make the case that KYNA is another. It is instructive to provide a comparison of the two molecules, and Table 14 does so.…”

“…Concentrations in the plasma of the nutraceutical ergothioneine are typically 1–4 μM (~229–916 ng/mL) (e.g., [ 319 , 320 ]), and are ~10-fold higher in whole blood as ergothioneine is concentrated in erythrocytes [ 18 ]. In contrast, KYNA concentrations in plasma and serum are some 1–2 orders of magnitude lower ( Table 2 ).…”

Characterization of Bioactive Compounds in Spent Mushroom Substrate: A Metabolomic Perspective on Its Untapped Potential

“…Mushrooms are recognized as the richest dietary source of EGT, although its content varies greatly with species [ 19 ]. EGT exhibits strong antioxidant and cytoprotective properties and has been associated with neuroprotection [ 20 ], cardiovascular health [ 21 ], maternal health during pregnancy [ 22 ], and aging-related outcomes [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. It is taken up by the human body via the OCTN1 transporter and is suggested to accumulate in all tissues but preferentially to those predisposed to oxidative stress, including the brain, suggesting a role in neurodegenerative disease prevention [ 20 , 26 , 27 ].…”