Maternal plasma angiogenic and inflammatory factor profiling in foetal Down syndrome.

Monika Zbucka-Kretowska,Joanna Goscik,Karol Charkiewicz,Piotr Laudanski,Slawomir Wolczynski,Rudolf Kirchmair

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0189762

Monika Zbucka-Kretowska, Joanna Goscik + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0189762

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Abstract

Objective and designAngiogenic factors are proteins that are related to certain foetal chromosomal abnormalities. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of 60 angiogenic factors in the plasma of women with offspring possessing trisomy 21/Down syndrome (DS).MethodAfter analysing karyotyping results, we selected 20 patients with foetuses possessing DS, and for the control group, we selected 28 healthy patients with uncomplicated pregnancies who delivered healthy newborns at term (i.e., 15–18 weeks of gestation). To assess the concentration of proteins in the blood plasma, we used a protein macroarray which enabled simultaneous determination of 60 angiogenic factors per sample.ResultsWe observed a statistically significant increase in the concentration of these five angiogenic and inflammatory factors: TGFb1 (p = 0.039), angiostatin (p = 0.0142), I-309 (p = 0.0476), TGFb3 (p = 0.0395), and VEGF-D (p = 0.0173)—compared to concentrations in patients with healthy foetuses.ConclusionOur findings suggest that angiogenic factors may play role in DS pathogenesis.

Highlights

Down syndrome (DS), the most frequent chromosomal aberration, is caused by an extra chromosome 21 or a fragment thereof [1]
We observed a statistically significant increase in the concentration of these five angiogenic and inflammatory factors: Transforming growth factor beta 1 and 3 (TGFb1) (p = 0.039), angiostatin (p = 0.0142), I-309 (p = 0.0476), TGFb3 (p = 0.0395), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-D (p = 0.0173)—compared to concentrations in patients with healthy foetuses
Our findings suggest that angiogenic factors may play role in DS pathogenesis

Summary

Method

We selected 20 patients with foetuses possessing DS, and for the control group, we selected 28 healthy patients with uncomplicated pregnancies who delivered healthy newborns at term (i.e., 15–18 weeks of gestation). To assess the concentration of proteins in the blood plasma, we used a protein macroarray which enabled simultaneous determination of 60 angiogenic factors per sample

Results

Introduction

Materials and methods

Discussion