Dysregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 phosphorylation is associated with disruption of the blood-brain barrier and brain endothelial cell apoptosis induced by plasma from women with preeclampsia.

Disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is central in the pathophysiology of acute cerebral complications in women who have preeclampsia. Underling mechanisms are unclear. Using female human brain endothelial cells as an in vitro model of BBB, we show that plasma of women with preeclampsia increases cell apoptosis and permeability via activation of the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Since plasma of women with preeclampsia also enhanced VEGFR2 phosphorylation in the tyrosine 951 but decreased phosphorylation at the tyrosine 1175, we propose the former would be the more likely active form of VEGFR2 responsible for BBB alterations.