One Carbon Cycle Metabolites and Apoptosis in Preeclampsia

Abstract

The present thesis entitled One carbon cycle metabolites and apoptosis in newlinepreeclampsia comprises animal as well as human study. newlineThe animal study reports the effect of maternal omega-3 fatty acids and newlinevitamin E supplementation on pregnancy outcome, one carbon cycle metabolites newline(folate, vitamin B12 and homocysteine), LCPUFA, oxidative stress marker newline[(malondialdehyde (MDA)], angiogenic markers and apoptotic markers on the two newlinesub types of preeclampsia. newlineThe human study was undertaken in women with preeclampsia where newlinevarious placental apoptotic markers were examined and compared with markers in newlinethe placentae from normotensive women. Further, their association with maternal newlineblood pressure, one carbon cycle metabolites (folate, vitamin B12 and newlinehomocysteine), LCPUFA, oxidative stress marker [(malondialdehyde (MDA)], newlineglutathione, placental dimensions and neonatal outcomes is also reported. newlinePreeclampsia, a pregnancy disorder is marked by de novo maternal hypertension newlineand proteinuria that manifests during the second half of pregnancy. It affects 2-10% of newlinepregnancies worldwide (ACOG, 2019). The precise origin of preeclampsia remains newlineunclear, but it is believed that the placenta is recognized as the necessary component for newlinethe pathophysiology of preeclampsia (Sandovici et al., 2012).Placental development newlinerelies upon effective implantation and invasion of the maternal decidua by the placental newlinetrophoblast and is critical for achieving a successful pregnancy. Earlier studies from our newlinegroup have demonstrated altered micronutrients (folic acid, vitamin B12), lower levels of newlinelong chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA), increased homocysteine and oxidative newlinestress in women with preeclampsia (Kulkarni et al., 2010; Wadhwani et al., 2016).Low newlinelevels of fatty acids particularly omega-3 fatty acids are also reported to be associated newlinewith maternal homocysteine and oxidative stress levels (Wadhwani et al., 2014; Kulkarni newlineet al., 2011).