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MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 1 February 2012
From:
Jaclyn Bond, Media and Communications Coordinator, Mercy Health
Date:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pregnancy breakthrough: molecular scissors releasing disease-causing
toxin discovered
A team of scientists at Mercy Hospital for Women has made a groundbreaking discovery in the treatment of
preeclampsia, a potentially fatal condition that kills 60,000 women globally each year.
The Translational Obstetrics Group at Mercy Hospital for Women (University of Melbourne) specialise in
investigating ideas that will positively impact on women’s healthcare. Their most recent discovery of the
molecular scissors that release the toxin that causes preeclampsia is set to have major implications for
mothers and babies affected by this often deadly complication of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia is caused by proteins hostile to blood vessels that escape from the placenta and spread
throughout the mother’s body, attacking her organs. In 2006, “soluble endoglin” was identified as a key antiblood vessel “toxin” causing preeclampsia. This discovery was important because it identified a drug target:
an agent blocking the production of this toxin could stop preeclampsia in its tracks. Unfortunately, no one
knew how the diseased placenta actually released soluble endoglin.
Today, The Translational Obstetrics Group at Mercy Hospital for Women (University of Melbourne) report
Matrix-Metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14) as the molecular scissors releasing soluble endoglin. MMP14 sits on
the surface of preeclamptic placentas, approaches the endoglin tethered to the placenta and slices it. The
released fragment is none other than soluble endoglin that then floats off and attacks distant maternal
organs.
Published in The American Journal of Pathology, this work was mainly undertaken by two young scientists −
Dr Tu’hevaha Kaitu’u-Lino and Dr Kirsten Palmer – and led by Associate Professor Stephen Tong. Assoc
Prof Tong said of the team’s work, “Our group has been working hard to unravel the key biological steps
causing preeclampsia. Our discovery could have a very real impact on how we care for women with
preeclampsia in the future.”
The implication of this exciting discovery is that a very specific target to develop a drug for preeclampsia has
been identified. Developing a therapeutic that jams this molecular scissoring action could decrease soluble
endoglin release. If developed, it could save countless mothers and babies worldwide.
The Translational Obstetrics Group is already moving forward with their discovery, trying to develop such a
drug.
− Ends −
For more information and photo opportunities, please contact:
Jaclyn Bond
Media and Communications Coordinator, Mercy Health
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Mercy Health
Level 2, 12 Shelley Street, Richmond Vic 3121 Phone: +61 3 8416 7777 Fax: +61 3 8416 7888 mercyhealth.com.au ABN 77 191 901 062
Phone: 8416 7753
Mobile: 0408 834 964
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