Inflammatory Biomarkers in Preeclampsia and Pregnancy Health

Preeclampsia remains a leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity worldwide, characterised by new-onset hypertension and multi-organ dysfunction after 20 weeks of gestation. Central to its pathogenesis is an exaggerated systemic inflammatory response, in which a dysregulated balance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators contributes to endothelial injury, impaired trophoblast invasion and oxidative stress at the maternal–fetal interface. Biomarkers such as cytokines, chemokines and acute-phase proteins not only reflect these processes but also offer insights into disease severity and timing. Early alteration of interleukins (for example, elevated IL-6, TNF-α) and reduced regulatory mediators (for example, IL-10) have been linked to the onset of clinical symptoms. Complement activation fragments, adhesion molecules and novel mediators such as salt-inducible kinases further illuminate mechanisms of maternal immunological adaptation or maladaptation. The global significance of such biomarkers lies in their potential for risk stratification, early detection and individualised management, particularly in low-resource settings where conventional surveillance may be limited.

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Inflammatory Biomarkers in Preeclampsia and Pregnancy Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in inflammatory biomarkers in preeclampsia and pregnancy health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Cytokines: Small proteins secreted by immune cells that regulate inflammation, cell growth and differentiation.

Chemokines: A subclass of cytokines that direct the migration of immune cells to sites of inflammation or injury.

Trophoblast: The specialised placental cell layer that invades maternal decidua to establish nutrient and gas exchange.

Endothelial dysfunction: Impaired endothelial cell function leading to vasoconstriction, increased permeability and procoagulant states.

Salt-inducible kinase 3 (SIK3): An AMP-activated protein kinase-related enzyme that modulates energy balance and inflammatory signalling in placental cells.

Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1): A chemokine that recruits monocytes and influences vascular inflammation.

References

1. Downregulation of Salt-Inducible Kinase 3 Enhances CCL24 Activation in the Placental Environment with Preeclampsia. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (2023).
2. Maternal Serum Cytokine Concentrations in Healthy Pregnancy and Preeclampsia. Journal of Pregnancy (2021).
3. Second trimester cytokine profiles associated with gestational diabetes and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. PLOS ONE (2022).