Troponins, heat shock proteins and glycogen phosphorylase BB in umbilical cord blood of complicated pregnancies

Abstract

Purpose of the study: Heat shock proteins (Hsp) are evolutionary conserved molecules with a chaperone role in cell survival. We hypothesized that cord blood concentrations of molecules reflecting fetal cardiac muscle insult, including Hsp, troponins cTnI and cTnT, and glycol-phosphorylase BB (GP-BB) would be elevated in pregnancies complicated by gestational diabetes (GDM) or preeclampsia (PIH) compared to healthy controls.

Materials and methods: Pregnant women admitted for delivery at >28 weeks were divided into four groups: healthy patients delivered vaginally (VAG), healthy patients delivered by c-section (CS), patients with PIH, and patients with GDM. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and cord blood concentrations of Hsp, troponins cTnI and cTnT, and GP-BB were compared between groups. Statistical analyses included t-test, Chi square, and Wilcoxon rank sum as appropriate.

Results: cTnI concentrations were significantly higher in the PIH group compared to the GDM and VAG groups and they were higher in the CS group compared to the VAG group. Concentrations of Hsp70 were higher in the GDM group compared to the VAG and CS groups. Concentration of GP-BB was higher in the PIH group compared to the VAG group.

Conclusions: GP-BB and cTNI are the most sensitive markers for PIH-related fetal myocyte injury as is Hsp70 in pregnancies complicated by GDM.

Keywords:

• Hsp 27
• Hsp 70
• troponins
• GPBB
• neonate

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Milan N. Stojanovic, PhD, for providing access to his laboratory and the Associate Trustees of St Luke’s and Roosevelt Hospital for providing the necessary financial support.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the Associate Trustees of St Luke's and Roosevelt Hospital (Mount Sinai West) New York, NY, USA.