Expression and Clinical Significance of ATP-Binding Cassette Transporter 1 in Serum and Placental Tissue in Chinese Patients with Preeclampsia

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA1) in pregnant women with preeclampsia (PE). Methods: 52 pregnant women with PE who were admitted for delivery were enrolled in the study, while 30 normal pregnant inpatients were chosen as controls. Blood lipid and serum ABCA1 concentrations were assayed by enzymatic analysis and ELISA, respectively, and the expression of the ABCA1 gene and its encoded protein were detected and quantified by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Results: In the study group, blood lipid levels were significantly higher than those in the control group (p < 0.01), while the ABCA1 gene and its encoded protein expression in both serum and placental tissue were lower than that of controls. These differences were highly correlated with disease severity (p < 0.05). In PE patients, serum ABCA1 concentration was positively correlated with ABCA1 protein expression in placental tissue (r = 0.384, p < 0.01) and high-density lipoprotein level (r = 0.318, p < 0.05), but negatively correlated with low-density lipoprotein level (r = -0.279, p < 0.05). Conclusion: In PE women, expression of ABCA1 was decreased, suggesting that ABCA1 may play an important role in onset of PE by altering blood lipid metabolism.