PLACENTAL SOLUBLE FMS-LIKE TYROSINE KINASE 1 (SFLT1) IN PREECLAMPSIA COMPLICATED BY HIV INFECTION

摘要

South Africa is the epicenter of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (15.7%) are the second cause of maternal deaths of which preeclampsia represents 83%. Preeclampsia is characterised by an angiogenic imbalance of the antiangiogenic sFltl and sEng that antagonizes the biological effects of the proangiogenic VEGF and PlGF. The hypoxic placenta releases excess antiangiogenic factors into the maternal circulation causing endothelial dysfunction. In an attempt to assess the role of HIV infection in preeclampsia, this study examined the immuno-electron localization of sFltl in placentae of HIV infected and uninfected normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies at term. 25 placentae were collected post-delivery (HIV~(-ve) normotensive N-, n=6; HIV~(-ve) preeclamptic P-, n=5; HIV~(+ve) normotensive N+, n=8; and HIV~(+ve) preeclamptic P+, n=6). Post conventional immuno-electron processing, ultra-thin sections were immunolabeled with a polyclonal anti-goat Fltl antibody conjugated to 10nm IgG gold particles. Sections were post-fixed, contrast enhanced with uranyl acetate and Reynolds lead citrate and viewed on a Jeol 1011 Transmission Electron Microscope.