Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and ciliary neurotrophic factor in maternal plasma and umbilical cord blood from pre-eclamptic and physiological pregnancies

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the circulating levels of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in maternal serum and umbilical cord blood from respective pregnancies in pre-eclampsia (PE) cases and a control cohort. A total of 12 pre-eclampsia cases and 34 healthy controls were enrolled and the maternal peripheral blood – umbilical cord blood duos, were examined for BDNF and CNTF levels. BNDF levels were significantly higher in umbilical cord blood from pre-eclamptic pregnancies; there was also significant difference between maternal plasma and umbilical cord blood levels of BDNF (p < 0.001) in the controls. The CNTF levels in umbilical cord blood (CNTF-UCB) were significantly higher in PE cases than in the controls (p = 0.03). Significant differences were observed in expression of BDNF and CNTF proteins in maternal peripheral blood and umbilical cord blood between pre-eclampsia cases and healthy controls.

Keywords::

• Brain-derived neurotrophic factor
• ciliary neurotrophic factor
• pre-eclampsia

Acknowledgement

Each author has made an important scientific contribution to the study and has assisted with the drafting or revising of the manuscript, in accordance with the definition of an author as stated by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. The present study was supported by the projects MZMOU2005 and RECAMO CZ.1.05/2.1.00/03.0101.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.