Exploring biomarkers of systemic oxidative stress and placental insufficiency in pregnant women with inflammatory bowel diseases

IF 7.1 2区生物学 Q1 BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

Free Radical Biology and Medicine Pub Date : 2025-03-13 DOI:10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2025.03.017

Hannah J. Holstein , Dianne G. Bouwknegt , Marijn C. Visschedijk , Marian L.C. Bulthuis , Marjan Reinders-Luinge , Mirthe H. Schoots , Harry van Goor , Sanne J. Gordijn , Gerard Dijkstra , Arno R. Bourgonje

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often presents during the fertile age and may affect pregnancy outcomes. Both IBD and selected pregnancy complications involve oxidative stress. Soluble FMS-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and placental growth factor (PlGF) serve as biomarkers of placental insufficiency, while free thiols (FT) reflect systemic oxidative stress. This study aimed to assess the dynamics of FT, sFlt-1, and PlGF before, during, and shortly after pregnancy, and their relationships with disease- and pregnancy outcomes in patients with IBD.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included pregnant women with and without IBD. FTs were measured with colorimetric detection; sFlt-1 and PlGF were measured using immunofluorescent assays. Extensive clinical data were collected, including pregnancy complications and IBD parameters.

Results

A total of 40 patients and 14 non-IBD controls participated, covering 57 IBD and 14 control pregnancies. Serum FT levels were significantly lower in patients with ulcerative colitis during pregnancy (p = 0.007) and decreased compared to pre-conceptional levels (p = 0.005), indicating increased oxidative stress. sFlt-1/PlGF ratios were higher in patients with small-for-gestational-age infants (p = 0.015). Post-pregnancy FT levels were lower in patients experiencing disease exacerbations during pregnancy (p = 0.046), whereas sFlt-1/PlGF ratios were numerically higher (p = 0.063). IBD severity correlated with lower FT levels regarding surgical history (p = 0.066) and biologic use (p = 0.033).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates increased systemic oxidative stress in patients with IBD during pregnancy, as reflected by lower FT levels compared to pre-conceptional values and non-IBD controls. Prospective validation is required to evaluate the utility of these biomarkers in predicting pregnancy complications and informing clinical decisions.

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来源期刊

Free Radical Biology and Medicine 医学-内分泌学与代谢

CiteScore

14.00

自引率

4.10%

发文量

850

审稿时长

22 days

期刊介绍： Free Radical Biology and Medicine is a leading journal in the field of redox biology, which is the study of the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other oxidizing agents in biological systems. The journal serves as a premier forum for publishing innovative and groundbreaking research that explores the redox biology of health and disease, covering a wide range of topics and disciplines. Free Radical Biology and Medicine also commissions Special Issues that highlight recent advances in both basic and clinical research, with a particular emphasis on the mechanisms underlying altered metabolism and redox signaling. These Special Issues aim to provide a focused platform for the latest research in the field, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among researchers and clinicians.