Biomaterials for PlGF (Placental Growth Factor) and sFlt-1 (soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1) immunoassay development & manufacturing

The measurement of circulating levels of Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1), together with other clinical parameters, represents a valuable tool in the diagnosis and management of preeclampsia — a serious pregnancy complication affecting up to 10% of women worldwide.

PlGF is predominantly expressed in the placenta, although low concentrations can also be detected in tissues such as the heart, lungs, thyroid, bone, liver, and skeletal muscle. A member of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family, PlGF exists in four isoforms (PlGF1–PlGF4), with PlGF1 and PlGF2 being the most abundant. Its principal function is to stimulate placental angiogenesis, supporting vascular development and maturation. In other tissues, PlGF plays a role in promoting angiogenesis in response to ischemia or tissue injury².

Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (Flt-1), also referred to as vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (VEGFR-1), is a membrane receptor that binds several members of the VEGF family, including VEGF-A, VEGF-B, and PlGF. The soluble form, sFlt-1, corresponds to the first 656 amino acids of the full receptor, followed by a unique 30-amino-acid C-terminal sequence. sFlt-1 is produced primarily by endothelial cells and acts as a decoy receptor, sequestering VEGF and PlGF to regulate angiogenic signalling during pregnancy.

In clinical laboratory settings, measuring both circulating levels of PlGF and sFlt-1 are crucial in diagnosing preeclampsia, alongside with other medical parameters. Preeclampsia is characterized by high blood pressure and signs of liver or kidney damage, and it can occur in women after the 20th week of pregnancy. It is responsible for 10-15% of maternal deaths worldwide, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

Women with preeclampsia exhibit significantly reduced PlGF levels compared to those with uncomplicated pregnancies or gestational hypertension (pregnancy-associated hypertension without organ involvement) 2. Conversely, sFlt-1 concentrations are markedly elevated in conditions of placental hypoxia or inadequate perfusion. These elevated sFlt-1 levels exert anti-angiogenic effects that correlate with the clinical and laboratory manifestations observed in preeclampsia.

How Werfen can support you 

We can support your immunoassay portfolio expansion in the fertility panel by providing antibodies for the development and manufacturing of immunoassays to determine Placental Growth Factor (PlGF) and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1). 

Check our technical notes to see the performance of our two chemiluminescence prototypes for the quantitative measurement PlGF and sFlt-1 respectively. 

Werfen fertility biomaterials portfolio consists of the following products.

Contact us for further information on product availability and development stage

1. ^

   World Health Organization (WHO). WHO recommendations for prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.2011

2. ^

   Chau K et al. Placental Growth Factor and pre-eclampsia. Journal of Human Hypertension. 2017

3. ^

   Positive and Negative Regulation of Angiogenesis by Soluble Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1. Failla et al. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2018

4. ^

   World Health Organization (WHO). (2019). Maternal Mortality. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/maternal-mortality.

5. ^

   The role of disordered angiogenesis tissue markers (sFlt-1, PlGF) in present day diagnosis of preeclampsia. Kwiatkowski et al. Ginekologia Polska. 2019