Plasma angiotensin I and serum placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) in pre-eclampsia

Abstract

A study was undertaken on serial measurements of plasma angiotensin I (A-I) and serum placental leucine aminopeptidase (P-LAP) activities in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancy. There was the significant difference in A-I levels between normal and mild pre-eclamptic pregnancy at weeks 30, 35, 37, between normal and severe pre-eclamptic pregnancy at week 37. There were no differences in serum P-LAP between normal and mild pre-eclamptic pregnancy up to week 33, but thereafter the levels for the mild pre-eclampsia were significantly higher than for the normal pregnancy. The P-LAP activity for the severe pre-eclampsia reached its maximum level at week 31. Around this week, the levels for severe pre-eclampsia were significantly higher than in the normal pregnancy. After week 35, the activities decreased precipitously to week 40; the activities for severe pre-eclampsia in late pregnancy at weeks 39 and 40 were significantly lower than in normal pregnancy. The above data support the idea that P-LAP test is useful for prediction or diagnosis of pre-eclampsia.

Human Aminopeptidases: A Review of the Literature

“…Cystyl aminopeptidase also has angiotensinase activity and relatively high levels of the enzyme have been found in pregnancy sera in cases of pre-eclampsia and low levels in the late stage of severe pre-eclampsia (181). Serum activities of aspartyl aminopeptidase (aminopeptidase A), which also exhibits angiotensinase activity, show a significant decrease in cases of pre-eclampsia (182).…”

Possible Effects of Placental Leucine Aminopeptidase on the Regulation of Brain-Gut Hormones in the Fetoplacental Unit

“…It has recently been shown that somatostatin decreases insulin synthesis through a direct inhibitory effect on insulin gene expression [24], Previously, we have shown that the admin istration of bestatin in pregnant rats resulted in IUGR rat fetuses [25]. In addition, we reported a significant positive correlation be tween P-LAP activities in maternal peripheral sera and fetal body weight in normal and severe preeclamptic pregnancies [26], Therefore, further research is needed for the clarification of the relationship between P-LAP activities in maternal sera and the ratio of UA/UV somatostatin levels. We clari fied that a possible new role of P-LAP.…”

A new approach regarding the treatment of preeclampsia and preterm labor

“…Maternal serum APA and P-LAP activities in early mild preeclampsia patients are higher than those seen in normal pregnancy patients (Mizutani et al, 1985c;Safwat et al, 1995). As the severity of preeclampsia progresses both APA and P-LAP enzyme activities decrease, ultimately becoming lower than that measured during normal pregnancy (Mizutani et al, 1985c(Mizutani et al, , 1987. It is likely that increased APA and P-LAP activities in maternal sera before, and immediately after, the appearance of preeclampsia is in response to the increased production of AngII/AVP from the fetus.…”