We review the literature on the possible role of hypoxia in the etiology of IH, in particular, (1) the role of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and its downstream targets including GLUT-1 and VEGF; (2) the pathophysiological link between IH and retinopathy of prematurity; (3) hypoxic events in the early life including placental insufficiency, pre-eclampsia and low birthweight that have the potential to promote hypoxic stress; and (4) the evidence supporting the development of IH independent of HIF-1α.
Among the genetic factors, there is an association between pre-eclampsia and polymorphisms in some genes of different population samples, as vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin 1 alpha.
We determined whether polymorphisms in the promoter region of the tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) gene contributes to differences in susceptibility to develop pre-eclampsia.
Serum amyloid A, procalcitonin, highly sensitive C reactive protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels and acute inflammatory response in patients with hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet count (HELLP) and eclampsia.
Hypertension and proteinuria were diagnosed earlier (by 1.6 weeks and 1.9 weeks, respectively) in PE patients with VEGF(-2578)A only after adjustment of this association for risk factors of PE.
The aim of this current study was to investigate whether there is an association between the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha -307 polymorphism and PE or eclampsia.
The mechanisms may include the following pathways: [TGFB1 or TNFA]-[IL1B]-[pre-eclampsia]; [TNFA or INS]-[NOS3]-[pre-eclampsia]; [INS]-[HSPA4 or CLU]-[pre-eclampsia]; [ACE]-[MTHFR]-[pre-eclampsia].
These findings indicate that nicotine may promote VEGF secretion in human trophoblast cells under hypoxic conditions by reducing sFlt1 secretion and up-regulating VEGF transcription and improve the proliferation and tube formation of HUVEC cells, which may contribute to elucidate the protective effect of cigarette smoking against pre-eclampsia.
In humans, the placenta in late gestation secretes VEGF inhibitors like soluble FLT1 (sFLT1), and this is accentuated by multiple gestation and pre-eclampsia.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a crucial role in physiological vasculogenesis and vascular permeability and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia.