Urinary clusterin and glutathione-s-transferase levels in HIV positive normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies

ABSTRACT

Objective: To determine the level and effect of urinary clusterin (CLU) and glutathione-s-transferase (GST) proteins in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnant women with HIV infection. Methods: The urine concentration of CLU and GST in normotensive (n = 38) and preeclamptic pregnant (n = 38) women stratified by HIV status were estimated using the Bio-Plex® Pro^TM immunoassay. Results: Across the group, a significant down-regulation of CLU (p = 0.039) with a reduced trend in GST was shown in HIV positive preeclampsia. Conclusion: HIV infection affects the activity of urinary CLU protein in HIV positive preeclampsia. However, the cytoprotective role of these proteins neutralizes the oxidative radicals associated with preeclampsia development through complement response in HIV infection.

KEYWORDS:

• Preeclampsia
• HIV
• pregnancy
• urine
• normotensive

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr Catherine Connolly for contribution to the statistical analyses. This study was supported financially by the Research Department, College of Health Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.