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Preeclampsia, a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, poses significant risks to maternal and fetal health. Recent research highlights the potential of vertical circulating exosomes (VCEs) as biomarkers for early detection and monitoring of preeclampsia. Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles involved in intercellular communication, carry bioactive molecules that are messengers of the parental cell status (healthy or undergoing any pathological condition). In preeclampsia, alterations in the cargo of VCEssuch as proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids play the role of biomarkers in pathophysiology complications. These exosomal contents can provide insights into the underlying mechanisms, including endothelial dysfunction, immune response dysregulation, and placental abnormalities. Early identification of specific exosomal biomarkers may facilitate timely therapeutic interventions, improving outcomes for both mother and child. This article explores the emerging role of VCEs in preeclampsia, emphasizing their diagnostic and prognostic potential, and underscores the need for further research to validate these biomarkers and integrate them into clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leptin, primarily produced by adipocytes, is implicated in the development of pre-eclampsia. This study examines placental leptin production and serum leptin levels in HIV infected and uninfected normotensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Placental leptin production was analysed by RT-PCR and serum leptin levels by ELISA in normotensive (n = 90) and pre-eclamptic (n = 90) pregnancies which were further stratified by HIV status. Placental leptin production was higher in pre-eclampsia compared to normotensive pregnancies irrespective of HIV status (p = .04). Serum leptin was non-significantly raised in HIV uninfected (p = .42) but lower in HIV-infected (p = .03) pre-eclampsia. The latter had lower BMI (p = .007) and triceps skin-fold thickness (p < .001) than the HIV uninfected groups with a significant correlation between serum leptin and triceps skin-fold thickness (p < .001), indicative of less adipose tissue in HIV-infected women with consequently lower serum leptin. Thus, serum leptin levels are not indicative of increased placental production when pre-eclampsia is associated with HIV infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]