Characteristics of lipid metabolism dysfunction in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) rank among the primary contributors to maternal and perinatal morbidity, characterized by hypertension, proteinuria, and neuropsychiatric manifestations. While metabolic dysfunction is recognized as a driving factor in various diseases, the precise characteristics of lipid metabolism dysfunction in HDP remain inadequately understood. METHODS: Full-spectrum metabolomic profiling was performed on peripheral blood samples from 30 patients with HDP and 30 healthy controls, with targeted metabolic validation using placental tissues. RNA sequencing was employed to investigate the molecular characteristics underlying lipid metabolism dysregulation in HDP. RESULTS: Our findings highlight significant disruptions in lipid metabolism, particularly fatty acyls (FAs), in patients with HDP. The levels of specific FAs were closely associated with HDP clinical characteristics. Furthermore, RNA sequencing revealed a strong correlation between MCAM expression and FA metabolism, as well as HDP-related symptoms. KEGG pathway analysis and molecular biology experiments suggested the activation of MAPK pathway may be related with MCAM's involvement in FA metabolism among patients with HDP. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides insights into the characteristics of lipid metabolism dysfunction in HDP and delineates its potential molecular pathways.