Preeclampsia Induced by STOX1 Overexpression in Mice Induces Intrauterine Growth Restriction, Abnormal Ultrasonography and BOLD MRI Signatures

Background: Preeclampsia is a major hypertensive disease caused by pregnancy, inducing proteinuria and increased blood pressure starting from the second half of pregnancy (early preeclampsia) or near the end of pregnancy (late preeclampsia). Pre-symptomatic diagnosis would allow for therapeutic interventions, such as with low-dose aspirin. Among non-invasive methods to explore organ physiology, Doppler ultrasonography (US) and functional blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) MRI (which do not need radioactive contrast agents such as gadolinium) can be used in pregnant women.

Methods: In this study, we used US and BOLD MRI to finely characterize the phenotype of preeclampsia induced by the foeto-placental overexpression of the transcription factor storkhead box 1A (STOX1A) in female mice.

Results: We could observe late fetal growth restriction consistent with the placental dysfunction revealed by US and the known association between preeclampsia and intra-uterine growth restriction. On US, uterine and umbilical artery as well as heart and kidney parameters were modified in preeclamptic mice. On BOLD MRI, mean T2* values revealed considerable differences between control and preeclamptic placentas, which suggests altered dynamics of oxygen release and ratio of oxyhemoglobin to deoxyhemoglobin in the model.

Conclusion: These preliminary pre-clinical results suggest that BOLD MRI could be evaluated as a prognostic/diagnostic tool for preeclampsia.