Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study
Background/Objectives: Inadequate cardiovascular adaptation during pregnancy impairs endothelial function and vascular resistance, contributing to complications such as pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH). Neprilysin (NEP), a protease involved in vascular regulation, has been linked...
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2024-12-01
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| author | Kaltrina Kutllovci Hasani Azra Kulovic-Sissawo Adam Saloň Christina Stern Karoline Mayer-Pickel Mila Cervar-Zivkovic Nandu Goswami Herbert Fluhr Ursula Hiden |
| author_facet | Kaltrina Kutllovci Hasani Azra Kulovic-Sissawo Adam Saloň Christina Stern Karoline Mayer-Pickel Mila Cervar-Zivkovic Nandu Goswami Herbert Fluhr Ursula Hiden |
| author_sort | Kaltrina Kutllovci Hasani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Inadequate cardiovascular adaptation during pregnancy impairs endothelial function and vascular resistance, contributing to complications such as pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH). Neprilysin (NEP), a protease involved in vascular regulation, has been linked to PE, but its role in endothelial function and vascular adaptation remains unclear. This pilot study investigates the associations between soluble neprilysin (sNEP) and markers of vascular and renal function in high-risk pregnancies without PE. Methods: Observed parameters were analyzed in 29 high-risk pregnant women across early, mid-, and late pregnancy. sNEP levels were analyzed alongside body mass index (BMI), endothelial dysfunction (ADMA), arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, PWV), retinal microvasculature (central retinal arteriolar and venular equivalents, CRAE and CRVE), and kidney function markers. The impact of gestational hypertension (GH) and prior smoking on sNEP levels was also evaluated. Results: In early and mid-pregnancy, sNEP was inversely associated with BMI. During mid-pregnancy, sNEP showed a positive correlation with CRAE and an inverse correlation with PWV, suggesting reduced arterial stiffness. By late pregnancy, sNEP was positively associated with glomerular filtration rate and inversely correlated with creatinine and protein levels, reflecting improved kidney function. Women with GH exhibited elevated sNEP, while former smokers had lower sNEP levels in early pregnancy. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sNEP plays a role in vascular and renal adaption during pregnancy, offering new perspectives on vascular tone regulation in high-risk pregnancies. Further research is needed to clarify these mechanisms and their clinical relevance. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2227-9059 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Biomedicines |
| spelling | doaj-art-c623656f656a4d68af17fe0a678370502025-01-24T13:23:51ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592024-12-011315210.3390/biomedicines13010052Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot StudyKaltrina Kutllovci Hasani0Azra Kulovic-Sissawo1Adam Saloň2Christina Stern3Karoline Mayer-Pickel4Mila Cervar-Zivkovic5Nandu Goswami6Herbert Fluhr7Ursula Hiden8Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, AustriaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, AustriaVascular Biology Centre, Augusta University, 1460 Laney Walker Blvd, Augusta, GA 30912, USADepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, AustriaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, AustriaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, AustriaGravitational Physiology and Medicine Research Unit, Division of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Otto Löwi Research Centre of Vascular Biology, Immunity and Inflammation, Medical University of Graz, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 6, 8010 Graz, AustriaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, AustriaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Graz, Auenbruggerplatz 14, 8036 Graz, AustriaBackground/Objectives: Inadequate cardiovascular adaptation during pregnancy impairs endothelial function and vascular resistance, contributing to complications such as pre-eclampsia (PE) and gestational hypertension (GH). Neprilysin (NEP), a protease involved in vascular regulation, has been linked to PE, but its role in endothelial function and vascular adaptation remains unclear. This pilot study investigates the associations between soluble neprilysin (sNEP) and markers of vascular and renal function in high-risk pregnancies without PE. Methods: Observed parameters were analyzed in 29 high-risk pregnant women across early, mid-, and late pregnancy. sNEP levels were analyzed alongside body mass index (BMI), endothelial dysfunction (ADMA), arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, PWV), retinal microvasculature (central retinal arteriolar and venular equivalents, CRAE and CRVE), and kidney function markers. The impact of gestational hypertension (GH) and prior smoking on sNEP levels was also evaluated. Results: In early and mid-pregnancy, sNEP was inversely associated with BMI. During mid-pregnancy, sNEP showed a positive correlation with CRAE and an inverse correlation with PWV, suggesting reduced arterial stiffness. By late pregnancy, sNEP was positively associated with glomerular filtration rate and inversely correlated with creatinine and protein levels, reflecting improved kidney function. Women with GH exhibited elevated sNEP, while former smokers had lower sNEP levels in early pregnancy. Conclusions: These findings suggest that sNEP plays a role in vascular and renal adaption during pregnancy, offering new perspectives on vascular tone regulation in high-risk pregnancies. Further research is needed to clarify these mechanisms and their clinical relevance.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/52soluble neprilysinvascular healthhigh-risk pregnancies |
| spellingShingle | Kaltrina Kutllovci Hasani Azra Kulovic-Sissawo Adam Saloň Christina Stern Karoline Mayer-Pickel Mila Cervar-Zivkovic Nandu Goswami Herbert Fluhr Ursula Hiden Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study Biomedicines soluble neprilysin vascular health high-risk pregnancies |
| title | Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study |
| title_full | Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study |
| title_fullStr | Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study |
| title_short | Association of Circulating Neprilysin with BMI, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Function in High-Risk Pregnancies: A Pilot Study |
| title_sort | association of circulating neprilysin with bmi cardiovascular health and kidney function in high risk pregnancies a pilot study |
| topic | soluble neprilysin vascular health high-risk pregnancies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/13/1/52 |
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