The role of shed placental DNA in the systemic inflammatory syndrome of preeclampsia

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 213; no. 3; pp. 268 - 277
• Main Authors: Hartley, James D.R., Ferguson, Brian J., Moffett, Ashley
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.09.2015
• Subjects: Cell-Derived Microparticles - immunology; Cell-Derived Microparticles - metabolism; Cytokines - immunology; Cytokines - metabolism; DNA - immunology; DNA - metabolism; Female; Humans; Hypoxia - immunology; Hypoxia - metabolism; inflammation; Leptin - immunology; Leptin - metabolism; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Placenta - blood supply; Placenta - immunology; Placenta - metabolism; placental DNA; Pre-Eclampsia - immunology; Pre-Eclampsia - metabolism; preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - immunology; Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome - metabolism; Trophoblasts - cytology; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 - metabolism; placental DNA; inflammation; preeclampsia
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.03.026

Preeclampsia is a syndrome occurring only in pregnancy characterized by systemic maternal inflammation and associated with the presence of the placenta. How these 2 aspects of the disease are linked has been the subject of numerous theories and ideas. Recently, there has been increasing interest in DNA shed from the placenta into the maternal circulation as a potential agent initiating the inflammatory response. This review will discuss the current evidence and future directions for placental DNA as the linking factor in preeclampsia in the context of other hypotheses.