Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in peripheral blood cells of preeclamptic women

Objective: Preeclampsia is associated with platelet and endothelial dysfunction. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is found in peripheral blood leukocytes and released from platelets on activation. We analyzed the content of (VEGF) in peripheral blood cells of preeclamptic women. Methods: The VEGF content of platelets, mononuclear white blood cells, and granulocytes of peripheral blood were analyzed from 12 women with preeclampsia, 19 healthy pregnant women, and 20 nonpregnant women. Protein released from lysed cells was analyzed by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Results: Platelet VEGF content of preeclamptic women (0.081 ng/10(9) cells, 0.016 to 2.7 ng/10(9) cells; median, range) was similar to that of healthy pregnant women (0.31 ng/10(9) cells, 0.013 to 0.92 ng/10(9) cells) and that of nonpregnant (0.073 ng/10(9) cells, 0.012 to 0.76 ng/10(9) cells) women. Likewise, the VEGF content of granulocytes was similar in preeclamptic (18.5 ng/10(9) cells, 1.2 to 193 ng/10(9) cells), healthy pregnant (25.3 ng/10(9) cells, 0.8 to 441 ng/10(9) cells), and nonpregnant (29 ng/10(9) cells, 0.25 to 200 ng/10(9) cells) women. In mononuclear cells, the VEGF content of healthy pregnant women was higher (4.4 ng/10(9) cells, 0.13 to 13.7 ng/10(9) cells) than in nonpregnant women (1.7 ng/10(9) cells, 0.15 to 11.4 ng/10(9) cells, P < 0.05). Also, the mononuclear cell VEGF content of preeclamptic women (8.2 ng/10(9) cells, 0.04 to 23 ng/10(9) cells) tended to be higher than in nonpregnant women (P approximate to 0.07). Conclusion: Uncomplicated pregnancy is associated with an elevated VEGF content of mononuclear cells. Preeclampsia does not seem to affect the VEGF content of maternal peripheral blood mononuclear cells, granulocytes, or platelets.