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Review
. 2013 Apr;69(4):413-8.
doi: 10.1111/aji.12072. Epub 2012 Dec 28.

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibody (AT1-AA)-mediated pregnancy hypertension

Florian Herse  1 , Babbette LaMarca
Affiliations
Review

Angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibody (AT1-AA)-mediated pregnancy hypertension

Florian Herse et al. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2013 Apr.

Abstract

Autoantibodies can cause complications in pregnancy. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. Overall, 5-10% of all pregnancies worldwide develop preeclampsia. Women who developed preeclampsia and their children have an increased risk to suffer from cardiovascular diseases later in life. In preeclampsia, agonistic autoantibodies against the angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibodies (AT1-AA) are described. They induce NADPH oxidase and the MAPK/ERK pathway leading to NF-κB and tissue factor activation. AT1-AA are detectable in animal models of preeclampsia and are responsible for elevation of soluble fms-related tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1) and soluble endoglin (sEng), oxidative stress, and endothelin-1, all of which are enhanced in preeclamptic women. AT1-AA can be detected in pregnancies with abnormal uterine perfusion and increased resistance index as well as in patients with systemic sclerosis and renal allograft rejection. This review discusses the current knowledge about the AT1-AA, its signaling, and their impact in pregnancy complications and other autoimmune disorders.

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Figures

Figure
Figure. Signal cascades of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor autoantibodies (AT1-AA)
The agonistic AT1-AA induces signaling by the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-receptor), blockable by AT1-receptor blocker (ARB) or the 7 aminoacid peptide (AFHYESQ) mimicing the epitope of the AT1-AA in the second extracellular domain of the AT1-receptor. Intracellular cascades and promoter activations in the nucleus lead to an upregulation of the tissue factor, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1), soluble endoglin (sEng) and endothelin-1 (ET-1).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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