Agonistic autoantibodies to the AT1 receptor in rat models of preeclampsia: induced by chronic reductions in uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) and low dose TNFalpha infusion

Recent studies have found that the IgG fraction from preeclamptic women contains an angiotensin-1 receptor autoantibody (AT1R-AA) that stimulates the angiotensin II type I (AT1) receptor, suggesting that these antibodies could contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether pregnant rats with chronic reductions in uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) or low-dose TNFa infusion, develop AT1R-AA. AT1R-AA were detected by the chronotropic responses to AT1 receptor–mediated stimulation of cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes coupled with receptor-specific ant…