Monoclonal antibody to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 as a novel therapy for preeclampsia: preliminary results from a rat model

Abstract

Objective: Preeclampsia is a prevalent and potentially devastating complication of pregnancy. Intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) was reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Therefore we hypothesized anti-ICAM-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) could be a therapeutic choice for preeclampsia. The objective of this study was to evaluate its therapeutic effects using a rat model of preeclampsia. Methods: Timed pregnant Wistar rats were intravenously injected endotoxin and then randomized to receive either anti-ICAM-1 mAb or saline. The effects of antibody on blood pressure, urinary protein, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, uric acid, weight of placenta were measured. Pregnancy outcomes were evaluated. Results: Anti-ICAM-1 mAb significantly decreased the levels of blood pressure, urinary protein, maternal BUN, creatnine and uric acid comparing with untreated preeclamptic rats. And the antibody therapy significantly improved pregnancy outcomes. After five days of mAb treatment, most of the parameters in mAb-treated group approached normal levels. Conclusions: Our data prove anti-ICAM-1 mAb therapy as a promising choice for preeclampsia.

Keywords::

• antibody therapy
• intercellular adhesion molecule-1
• preeclampsia
• rat model

Acknowledgements

The authors thank Prof. Ping Liang, Foreign College, Southern Medical University, for his critical review of the manuscript. This work was supported by the Grant of Project in Research on the Medical Science and Technology of Guangdong Province, P.R.China. (grant A2002376).

Declaration of interest: Authors have no conflict of interest to declare and are solely responsible for the content of their paper.