Borne PhD student, Katerina Georgopoulou, has been working on tracing the origins of pre-eclampsia, a condition that occurs in approximately 5% of pregnancies and is responsible for 10% of preterm births.
Her studies provided critical insights into how the enzyme DDAH can cause pre-eclampsia. DDAH indirectly controls the levels of nitric oxide, which controls the tone of our vessels: high levels cause the relaxation of smooth muscle cells within blood vessels and lower blood pressure; low levels result in vasoconstriction and higher blood pressure.
During pre-eclampsia, DDAH activity is reduced resulting in higher blood pressure in the mother. Importantly, these studies provide the first evidence that altered placental function has an impact on maternal physiology, and mechanistic insights into the conversation between the placenta and the mother.
