Soluble syndecan-1 and glycosaminoglycans in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnancies

Preeclampsia, an important cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality, is associated with increased sFLT1 levels and with structural and functional damage to the glycocalyx contributing to endothelial dysfunction. We investigated glycocalyx components in relation to preeclampsia in human samples. While soluble syndecan-1 and heparan sulphate were similar in plasma of preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women, dermatan sulphate was increased and keratan sulphate decreased in preeclamptic women. Dermatan sulphate was correlated with soluble syndecan-1, and inversely correlated with blood pressure and activated partial thromboplastin time. To determine if syndecan-1 was a prerequisite for the sFlt1 induced increase in blood pressure in mice we studied the effect of sFlt1 on blood pressure and vascular contractile responses in syndecan-1 deficient and wild type male mice. The classical sFlt1 induced rise in blood pressure was absent in syndecan-1 deficient mice indicating that syndecan-1 is a prerequisite for sFlt1 induced increase in blood pressure central to preeclampsia. The results show that an interplay between syndecan-1 and dermatan sulphate contributes to sFlt1 induced blood pressure elevation in pre-eclampsia.

Morquio disease with CNS involvement: a rare association

Morquio syndrome is a rare type of mucopolysaccharidosis. Our patient presented with uncontrolled seizures and gross skeletal deformity. He was suspected to be suffering from mucopolysaccharidosis based on his disease presentation but the diagnosis could be made as Morquio syndrome on the basis of the presence of keratan sulphate in the urine. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/jnps.v34i2.9298 J Nepal Paediatr Soc 2014;34(2):157-159