Tracing the Lipid Fingerprints of Preeclampsia

Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) is the most common pregnancy-related complication responsible for maternal mortality and morbidity. PE pathogenesis is characterized by placental dysfunction, impaired invasion of trophoblast, and defective spiral artery remodelling. Even after many years of research on PE, the etiology and pathophysiology of PE is still elusive. Our earlier studies have shown deregulated maternal and placental fatty acid and lipid metabolism to be associated with the pathogenesis of PE. Currently available lipidomics data have shown that glycerophospholipids, sphingolipid and cholesterol metabolism are mainly altered in preeclampsia. Including these five metabolites (SM C28:1, SM C30:1, LPC C19:0, LPE C20:0, propane-1,3-diol) with currently used protein biomarkers like sFlt-1/PlGF will improve PE prediction. Similarly, CE17:1 and CER(d20:1/24:1) alongwith sFlt-1/PlGF makes a better prediction of PE than sFlt-1/PlGF alone A comprehensive map of lipid profiles in early pregnancy may provide an improved understanding of disease pathogenesis and will be useful predictive biomarkers. In this article, we aimed to summarize the significance of lipid metabolism in the preeclampsia pathogenesis and altered lipidome signatures in preeclampsia. We also discuss the future scope of lipidomics in aiding early prediction of PE and future cardiovascular risk in both mother and child.

Keywords: Biomarkers; Lipid metabolism; Lipidomics; Placental dysfunction; Preeclampsia.