Placental growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in the placentas of women with pre-eclampsia

BACKGROUND: Although the exact mechanism of pre-eclampsia - high blood pressure and proteinuria after 20 gestational weeks - is not yet fully understood, placental growth factor (PLGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) are known to play important roles in vascularization and in the pathology of pre-eclampsia. METHODS: PLGF, VEGF, and HIF-1α were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in the placentas of Sudanese women with mild or severe pre-eclampsia, and in normal controls. RESULTS: Sixty-two women had severe pre-eclampsia, 102 had mild pre-eclampsia and 101 women served as healthy controls. Immunohistochemical staining of PLGF was significantly lower in placentas of women with severe pre-eclampsia (16%) compared with those with mild pre-eclampsia (8.8%) and placentas of normotensive women (40.6%; p < .001). Significantly more of the pre-eclamptic placentas expressed VEGF: in 32%, 17.6%, and 14.9% (p = .020) of the placentas of women with severe or mild pre-eclampsia and in controls, respectively. Significantly more of the pre-eclamptic placentas expressed HIF-1α: in 15%, 10.8%, and 5.0% of the placentas of women with severe or mild pre-eclampsia, and in controls, respectively (p = .044). CONCLUSION: The current study showed that PLGF, VEGF, and HIF-1α are involved in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia.