US 7,541,182 B2
In vitro test to detect risk of preeclampsia
Gil G. Mor, Cheshire, Conn. (US); Donna Neale, New Haven, Conn. (US); and Roberto Romero, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich. (US)
Assigned to Yale University, New Haven, Conn. (US); and The United States of America as represented by the Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. (US)
Filed on Feb. 13, 2004, as Appl. No. 10/779,360.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/516296, filed on Nov. 03, 2003.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/447140, filed on Feb. 13, 2003.
Prior Publication US 2005/0074746 A1, Apr. 07, 2005
Int. Cl. C12N 5/08 (2006.01)
U.S. Cl. 435—372 7 Claims
 
1. A method for determining if a pregnant woman is at risk of developing preeclampsia, comprising:
(a) culturing human trophoblast cells in the presence of (i) anti-Fas antibodies and (ii) serum or plasma obtained from a pregnant woman to be assessed for risk of developing preeclampsia, wherein the serum or plasma is from the first trimester of pregnancy;
(b) culturing an equivalent sample of human trophoblast cells under the same conditions as cells in (a) but in the absence of serum or plasma obtained from a pregnant woman to be assessed for risk of developing preeclampsia; and
(c) comparing viability of cells cultured in (a) with the viability of cells cultured in (b), wherein if fewer cells cultured in (a) than cells cultured in (b) are viable, the woman is determined to be at risk of developing preeclampsia.