Endothelin/endothelin receptor system is upregulated in preeclampsia with or without fetal growth restriction in contrast to gestational diabetes

Introduction: In addition to its vasoregulative function, in the human placenta endothelin-1 (ET-1) also regulates cell differentiation, proliferation, invasion and apoptosis. ET-1 effects are signaled through two receptor subtypes ETR-A and ETR-B . We tested the hypothesis that the expression of ET-1 and ETRs is altered in preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR) and in gestational diabetes (GDM) and differs between early (gestational week ≤34) and late (GW >34) third trimester pregnancies. Methods: The study included women (GW 28–41) with PE (blood pressure >140/90mmHg, protein >300mg/24hrs; n=16), with FGR (34 ETR-B ET-1 PE 2.6 (0.04) 3.0 (0.01) 3.5 (0.01) 0.6 (0.05) 2.0 (0.02) 0.4 (0.05) PE+FGR 5.1 (0.05) 3.4 (0.04) 6.9 (0.003) - - - FGR n.s n.s. 3.8 (0.02) 0.6 (0.05) n.s. n.s. GDM - - - 0.5 (