Abstract
In preeclampsia, maternal insulin resistance leads to defective expansion of adipocytes, enhanced adipocyte lipolysis, up-regulation of very low density lipoprotein synthesis, maternal hypertriglyceridaemia and the potential for ectopic fat storage. Our aim was to quantitate and compare the total amount and type of lipid in placenta from pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia and healthy pregnancies. Quantitative lipid analysis of lipid extracts from full thickness placental biopsies was carried out by shotgun lipidomics. Placental lipid profiles from pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (n = 23) were compared to healthy pregnancies (n = 68), and placenta from intrauterine growth restriction pregnancies (n = 10) were used to control for gross differences in placental pathology. Placentae from pregnancies complicated with preeclampsia had higher neutral lipid content than healthy placentae (40% higher triacyglycerol (P = 0.001) and 33% higher cholesteryl ester (P = 0.004)) that was specific to preeclampsia and independent of maternal gestation.
Highlights
Preeclampsia (PET) is a leading cause of pregnancy-related maternal and offspring mortality and morbidity
Birth weight centile (BWC) were lower in PET (60%) and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) (98%) pregnancies compared to controls
This study has directly ascertained for the first time that placental neutral storage lipid content (TAG and Cholesteryl ester (CE)) is higher in PET compared to healthy control and IUGR third trimester placenta
Summary
Preeclampsia (PET) is a leading cause of pregnancy-related maternal and offspring mortality and morbidity. It occurs in 2–10% of pregnancies and is unique to humans [1]. Mothers store fatty acids in adipose tissue and, as a consequence of the action of pregnancy hormones, maternal insulin resistance develops in mid to late gestation [7]. This leads to increased adipocyte lipolysis, up-regulation of very low density lipoprotein
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