A recent study has shown promising results in treating pre-eclampsia, a common pregnancy complication, by delivering mRNA molecules to the placenta to boost the growth of new blood vessels in mice. Pre-eclampsia, characterized by high blood pressure and kidney damage after the 20th week of pregnancy, can have serious consequences for both mother and baby. Currently, early delivery is the only way to manage the condition, but this new therapy could provide a non-invasive alternative.
The next step for researchers is to test this mRNA therapy in larger animals, such as guinea pigs and non-human primates, before moving on to human trials. If successful, the therapy could be used to treat women who develop pre-eclampsia early in pregnancy, potentially avoiding the need for early induction of labor and reducing the risk to both mother and baby.
The delivery of mRNA molecules via lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) has already been successfully used in COVID-19 vaccines, and the approach has been tested in pregnant women. The challenge for researchers was finding a way to get the LNPs to the placenta, as they are typically taken up by liver cells when injected into the bloodstream. By creating LNPs with specific chemical properties, the researchers were able to successfully deliver mRNA coding for VEGF to pregnant mice with pre-eclampsia, resulting in a return to normal blood pressure for the remainder of the pregnancy.
While further research is needed to ensure the safety and efficacy of this treatment in higher-order primates and eventually in women with pre-eclampsia, the potential benefits are significant. An injectable therapy that is less invasive and expensive could be transformative, particularly in developing countries where access to advanced medical care is limited. Further studies will focus on the safety and effectiveness of this treatment in larger animals and, eventually, in human clinical trials.