Article
Authors: Donna A. Santillan (University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA) , Wendy S. Hamilton (University of Iowa) , Ashley Christensen (Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA) , Katelyn M. Talcott (University of Iowa) , Lindsay K. Gravatt (University of Iowa) , Mark K. Santillan (University of Iowa) , Stephen K. Hunter (University of Iowa)
Background: The role of the microenvironment is important in cell differentiation. The effect of placental disease on the growth and differentiation and hematopoietic stem cells has not been well-studied.
Methods: Enzyme linked immunoassay was used to measure erythropoietin and osteopontin in plasma from umbilical cord blood of children born to normotensive and preeclamptic women. Additionally, CD34+ cells were isolated from umbilical cord blood and grown in complete methylcellulose media. Colony types were identified and enumerated.
Results: Differences in the concentration of erythropoietin in the cord blood between the controls and the preeclamptics approached significance (P = 0.067) using a Mann-Whitney U test. In the plasma of cord blood from children born to normotensive women, the median erythropoietin was 0.186 mIU/mL compared to 1.986 mIU/mL in children of preeclamptic women. We did not find any significant differences in the number and types of colonies; however, there was a trend toward increased BFU-E in the preeclamptic samples. Furthermore, this trend for increased BFU-E colonies was also seen from CD34+ cells isolated from umbilical cord blood of severe preeclamptics compared to mild.
Conclusion: Our preliminary studies suggest that abnormalities in the placenta, such as those found when the mother experiences preeclampsia, may affect the ability of hematopoietic stem cells to grow and differentiate.
Keywords: pre-eclampsia, hematopoiesis, placenta, pregnancy, signal transduction
How to Cite: Santillan, D. A. , Hamilton, W. S. , Christensen, A. , Talcott, K. M. , Gravatt, L. K. , Santillan, M. K. & Hunter, S. K. (2013) “The effects of preeclampsia on signaling to hematopoietic progenitor cells”, Proceedings in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 3(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.17077/2154-4751.1207