The Salivary Scavenger and Agglutinin (SALSA) in Healthy and Complicated Pregnancy.

ABSTRACT: Pre-eclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide. The etiology is not clear, but an immune attack towards components of placenta or fetus has been indicated. This involves activation of the complement system in the placenta. We have previously described the presence of the complement-regulating protein salivary scavenger and agglutinin (SALSA) in amniotic fluid. In this study we investigated the potential role of SALSA in pregnancy by analyzing its presence in amniotic fluid and placental tissue during healthy and complicated pregnancies. SALSA levels in amniotic fluid increased during pregnancy. Before 20 weeks of gestation the levels were slightly higher in patients who later developed pre-eclampsia than in gestation age-matched controls. In th

SUBMITTER: Reichhardt MP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4734712 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature