Inflammatory mediators and the RAGE pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia

IntroductionPreeclampsia (PE) is a complex multisystem disorder of pregnancy associated with abnormal placentation, vascular anomalies, and systemic inflammation and hypertension. Previous research assessing inflammatory triggers of the condition used plasma, amniotic fluid, or explant samples. Stud...

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Main Authors: Neelima Chandra, Thomas D. Kimble, Kathleen R. Heim, Sharon M. Anderson, Andrew P. Wong, Andrea R. Thurman, Gustavo F. Doncel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Reproductive Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2025.1587699/full
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author Neelima Chandra
Thomas D. Kimble
Kathleen R. Heim
Sharon M. Anderson
Andrew P. Wong
Andrea R. Thurman
Gustavo F. Doncel
author_facet Neelima Chandra
Thomas D. Kimble
Kathleen R. Heim
Sharon M. Anderson
Andrew P. Wong
Andrea R. Thurman
Gustavo F. Doncel
author_sort Neelima Chandra
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionPreeclampsia (PE) is a complex multisystem disorder of pregnancy associated with abnormal placentation, vascular anomalies, and systemic inflammation and hypertension. Previous research assessing inflammatory triggers of the condition used plasma, amniotic fluid, or explant samples. Studies using placental tissue from either vaginal or cesarean deliveries are confined to semiquantitative analysis using subjective scoring methods and generally involve a small sample size.MethodsIn this study, we have quantified the expression of inflammatory mediators by immunohistochemical image analysis of archived placental tissues obtained from cesarean delivery of preeclamptic, chorioamnionitic, and normal pregnancies.ResultsAmong the inflammatory mediators, we found a significant elevation in the expression of receptors of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and two of its damage-associated molecular pattern proteins (DAMPs) and ligands, the high mobility group box protein HMGB1 and the calcium binding protein S100, in preeclamptic tissues as compared to normal placentas. In addition, we observed a significant increase in the master pro-inflammatory transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B p65 subunit (NFκB), as well as non-significant increases in cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) in the PE group.ConclusionThis study provides insight into the relationship of tissue inflammatory mediators with severe preeclampsia and the RAGE associated signaling complex, suggesting a pathogenic role for this pathway which has clinical implications for the understanding, diagnosis, and potential novel therapeutic approaches to the syndrome.
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spelling doaj-art-a0b00a2fd22a49edaf35c4bb3fe96cff2025-08-20T03:40:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Reproductive Health2673-31532025-08-01710.3389/frph.2025.15876991587699Inflammatory mediators and the RAGE pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsiaNeelima Chandra0Thomas D. Kimble1Kathleen R. Heim2Sharon M. Anderson3Andrew P. Wong4Andrea R. Thurman5Gustavo F. Doncel6CONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United StatesDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA, United StatesVHC Health Physicians, Charlotte S. Benjamin Center for Women’s Health, Arlington, VA, United StatesCONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United StatesCONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United StatesCONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United StatesCONRAD, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, United StatesIntroductionPreeclampsia (PE) is a complex multisystem disorder of pregnancy associated with abnormal placentation, vascular anomalies, and systemic inflammation and hypertension. Previous research assessing inflammatory triggers of the condition used plasma, amniotic fluid, or explant samples. Studies using placental tissue from either vaginal or cesarean deliveries are confined to semiquantitative analysis using subjective scoring methods and generally involve a small sample size.MethodsIn this study, we have quantified the expression of inflammatory mediators by immunohistochemical image analysis of archived placental tissues obtained from cesarean delivery of preeclamptic, chorioamnionitic, and normal pregnancies.ResultsAmong the inflammatory mediators, we found a significant elevation in the expression of receptors of advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and two of its damage-associated molecular pattern proteins (DAMPs) and ligands, the high mobility group box protein HMGB1 and the calcium binding protein S100, in preeclamptic tissues as compared to normal placentas. In addition, we observed a significant increase in the master pro-inflammatory transcription factor, nuclear factor kappa B p65 subunit (NFκB), as well as non-significant increases in cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and interleukin 8 (IL-8) in the PE group.ConclusionThis study provides insight into the relationship of tissue inflammatory mediators with severe preeclampsia and the RAGE associated signaling complex, suggesting a pathogenic role for this pathway which has clinical implications for the understanding, diagnosis, and potential novel therapeutic approaches to the syndrome.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2025.1587699/fullcalcium binding protein (S-100)cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)high mobility group box protein (HMGB1)interleukin 8 (IL-8)nuclear factor kappa B p65 sub unit (NF-kBp65)receptors of advanced glycation end products (RAGE)
spellingShingle Neelima Chandra
Thomas D. Kimble
Kathleen R. Heim
Sharon M. Anderson
Andrew P. Wong
Andrea R. Thurman
Gustavo F. Doncel
Inflammatory mediators and the RAGE pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia
Frontiers in Reproductive Health
calcium binding protein (S-100)
cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)
high mobility group box protein (HMGB1)
interleukin 8 (IL-8)
nuclear factor kappa B p65 sub unit (NF-kBp65)
receptors of advanced glycation end products (RAGE)
title Inflammatory mediators and the RAGE pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia
title_full Inflammatory mediators and the RAGE pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia
title_fullStr Inflammatory mediators and the RAGE pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia
title_full_unstemmed Inflammatory mediators and the RAGE pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia
title_short Inflammatory mediators and the RAGE pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia
title_sort inflammatory mediators and the rage pathway in placental tissues of pregnancies complicated by severe preeclampsia
topic calcium binding protein (S-100)
cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2)
high mobility group box protein (HMGB1)
interleukin 8 (IL-8)
nuclear factor kappa B p65 sub unit (NF-kBp65)
receptors of advanced glycation end products (RAGE)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/frph.2025.1587699/full
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