Antibodies against human and bacterial 60kDa heat shock proteins in pregnant women with superimposed preeclampsia
Authors:   Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine, Popel O.K. , Govsieiev D.O. ,   Bogomolets National Medical University, Kyiv, Ukraine
Published: April 2024

Purpose - to measure the blood serum levels of anti-HSP60 and anti-GroEL antibodies in pregnant women with chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia, to evaluate the prospects of using these indicators as superimposed preeclampsia predictors. Materials and methods. Prospective cohort observational study, which consisted of 105 pregnant women with chronic hypertension and the control group - 34 healthy pregnant women. Blood samples were collected at 28 weeks (first study point), the second time at 36 weeks in case of preeclampsia absence or at 29-35 weeks if preeclampsia added (second study point). If preeclampsia occurred after 36 weeks, additional anti-HSP60 and anti-GroEL antibodies measurements were not performed. Anti-HSP60 and anti-GroEL antibodies were measured by immunosorbent assay. Results. At 28 weeks anti-HSP60 and anti-GroEL antibodies growth was detected in the chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia subgroups compared to the healthy subgroup (p<0.01 and p<0.001 respectively for anti-HSP60; p<0.0001 for anti-GroEL in both cases), no difference was found between chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia subgroups. At the second study point, anti-HSP60 antibodies were increased in the chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia subgroups compared to the healthy subgroup (p<0.01 and p<0.0001, respectively); a statistically significant difference was found between chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia subgroups (p<0.01). Anti-GroEL antibodies at the second study point were increased in the chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia subgroups compared to the healthy subgroup (p<0.001 and p<0.0001), however, no statistically significant difference was found between levels in the chronic hypertension and superimposed preeclampsia subgroups. Anti-HSP60 antibodies showed a strong correlation with anti-GroEL antibodies in all subgroups at the first study point, same was true for healthy and chronic hypertension subgroups at the second study point. There was no correlation between anti-HSP60 and anti-GroEL antibodies indicators in the superimposed preeclampsia subgroup at the second study point (p=0.059). There was no growth of anti-GroEL antibodies with gestational age increase in the chronic hypertension subgroup. Anti-HSP60 antibodies increase at the second study point compared to concentrations at 28 weeks in the chronic hypertension subgroup (p<0.001) and the superimposed preeclampsia subgroup (p<0.001). Conclusions. Loss of immunological tolerance to HSP60 and exacerbation of immunological reactivity against GroEL accompany hypertensive disorders course during pregnancy. Anti-HSP60 antibodies may play a more significant role in superimposed preeclampsia development. Application of anti-HSP60 and anti-GroEL antibodies as superimposed preeclampsia predictors needs further study. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.