Researchers at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC have identified a protein within the placenta, known as sR-beta, that plays a role in infant vascular development and may serve as a therapeutic target for gestational disorders like preeclampsia, according to a study published in Angiogenesis.
The placenta remains an understudied temporary organ, despite its vital role in carrying oxygen and nutrients from mother to baby. While its overall function is well-established, medical science has known far less about the specific molecular breakdowns that cause complications during gestation. Investigators set out to baseline what has to go right during placental formation, discovering an oxygen-sensitive protein previously believed to exist only as a biomarker of cell death in the brain.
In Plain English: The Clinical Takeaway
- The Discovery: A protein called soluble platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (sR-beta) is active during healthy placental blood vessel formation, not just during cellular breakdown.
- Clinical Potential: The protein is oxygen-sensitive, meaning it could eventually serve as a biomarker to alert physicians to pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia.
- Future Impact: Researchers believe that abnormal levels of sR-beta during gestation could impair neurovascular development, potentially leading to conditions such as infant brain bleeds or retinopathy.
Identifying sR-beta in Placental and Vascular Development
John Chappell, associate professor at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, focuses his vascular biology research on blood vessel development. Chappell and his team identified sR-beta in the placenta, marking a shift in how medical science understands the protein. Audra Barnes-Lanier, a former graduate research assistant in Chappell’s lab and the paper’s first author, noted that the discovery establishes baseline levels of the protein in a healthy, developing placenta.
“We found that it is oxygen sensitive and may potentially serve as a new therapeutic target for pregnancy disorders such as preeclampsia,” Barnes-Lanier stated in the findings published in Angiogenesis. This finding challenges the established belief that sR-beta is merely a biomarker of pericyte cell death in the brain. Pericyte cells provide crucial structural integrity to blood vessels.
Investigators believe nature utilizes sR-beta on purpose during vascular development. Chappell holds an appointment in Virginia Tech’s biomedical engineering department in the College of Engineering, where his team plans to determine the protein’s exact function in pathway modulation to keep pericyte development in check.
| Research Element | Previous Understanding | Current Findings |
|---|---|---|
| Protein Location | Identified primarily as a marker of pericyte cell death in the brain. | Identified in the developing placenta and infant vascular systems. |
| Oxygen Sensitivity | Not studied in relation to placental oxygen flux. | Confirmed as oxygen-sensitive, opening pathways for preeclampsia research. |
| Clinical Application | Limited to retrospective brain pathology analysis. | Targeted as a prospective biomarker for neurodevelopmental risk and pregnancy distress. |
Investigating Gestational Misregulation and Neurovascular Risks
The next phase of the research focuses on what causes sR-beta to become misregulated during gestation and what those alterations mean for pregnancy outcomes. Chappell hypothesizes that an excess or a deficit of the protein could negatively impact neurovascular development in the developing baby. Potential clinical manifestations include brain bleeds—a life-threatening condition where blood vessels leak or rupture—and retinopathy, an eye disease caused by inadequate blood supply.
The lab’s immediate priority is to investigate how this protein changes during placental distress. While the team has substantial work ahead, the discovery alters the fundamental understanding of the location and purpose of sR-beta, shedding light on a vital organ that dictates both maternal well-being and lifelong infant health. The study was supported by a grant from the Seale Innovation Fund at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute.
References
- Barnes-Lanier, A., et al. Discovery of sR-beta in placental and vascular development. Angiogenesis.
- Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC. Research announcements and Seale Innovation Fund disclosures.
