Comparative analysis of the placental proteome in normal and severe preeclampsia

Objective. To study the molecular and biological features of the development of preeclampsia (PE) based on a comparative analysis of the placental proteome in patients with preeclampsia and healthy pregnant women. Materials and methods. 9 patients were examined: 3 healthy women with a physiological course of pregnancy (control group) and 6 patients with severe PE (main group). General clinical, laboratory and instrumental studies have been conducted. The placental proteome was analyzed by ultrahigh resolution chromatography-mass spectrometry, followed by hierarchical cluster analysis of differentially differing proteins in PE. Results. About 2.500 proteins have been identified in each sample of placental tissue. Differential differences between the main and control groups were revealed in relation to 275 proteins: the expression levels of 151 of them were increased in PE, 124 were decreased. Cluster analysis of these differentially expressed placental proteins in PE allowed us to identify 28 biological processes and 20 molecular functions involved in the pathophysiology of PE. 7 large clusters of proteins with increased expression in PE and 13 with reduced expression were identified. The most important clusters are: protein conversion in the endoplasmic reticulum, glycolysis/glyconeogenesis, the HIF-1 signaling pathway, autoimmune processes, carcinogenesis, formation of neutrophil extracellular traps, ECM receptor interaction, as well as reactions of energy, fat, carbohydrate, and protein metabolism. Conclusion. The placental proteome in PE significantly differs from the placental proteome of healthy pregnant women and indicates the development of stress in the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, hypoxia-induced reactions, a wide range of metabolic disorders, proinflammatory state and immunological disbalance.