Powers Research Group

Principal Investigator: Robert Powers, PhD

The pregnancy-specific syndrome preeclampsia is a leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. While several pre-existing maternal conditions are associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia such as diabetes, hypertension, renal dysfunction, and obesity, the underlying cause of preeclampsia is unknown. It is also unknown how obesity increases the risk of preeclampsia, how obesity-mediated metabolic aberrations interact with the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, and why only six to eight percent of obese women develop preeclampsia.

The lab hypothesizes that ADMA may be a biological convergence by which obesity increases the risk of preeclampsia. Several biochemical and molecular biology techniques are being utilized to investigate the role of ADMA as one possible mechanism by which obesity increases the risk of preeclampsia. The role of ADMA on vascular function in pregnant women as well as obese animal models is also being studied.

Lab Members

Lab Alumni

Frauke von Versen-Höeynck, MD, 2005-2009

(2007 Paul M. Rike, MD Fellowship Awardee; 2007 Preeclampsia Foundation Vision Grant Awardee; Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft- German Research Council- Fellowship Awardee 2008-2010)

Presently, Dr. von Versen-Höeynck is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover

Contact Information:
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Klinik für Frauenheilkunde und Geburtshilfe, OE 6410
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1
D-30625 Hannover
Phone: +49 511 532 6143/6144
Fax: +49 511 532 6145
Email

Selected Publications

  • Powers RW, Roberts JM, Cooper KM, Gallaher MJ, Frank MP, Harger GF, & Ness RB. Maternal serum sFlt-1 concentrations are not increased in early pregnancy and decrease more slowly postpartum in women who develop preeclampsia. Amer J Obstet Gynecol, 193:185-91, 2005.
  • Roberts JM, Bodnar LM, Lain KY, Hubel CA, Markovic N, Ness RB, & Powers RW. Uric acid is as important as proteinuria in identifying fetal risk in women with gestational hypertension. Hypertension, 46:1263-1269, 2005.
  • Powers RW, Bodnar LM, Ness RB, Cooper KM, Gallaher MJ, Frank MP, Daftary AR, Roberts JM. Uric acid concentrations are increased throughout pregnancy among women with gestational hyperuricemia at delivery. Amer J Obstet Gynecol, 194:161-168, 2005.
  • Bodnar LM, Catov JM, Simhan HN, Holick MF, Powers RW, Roberts JM. Maternal vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of preeclampsia. J Clin Endocrinol Metab, 92 3517-22, Sep. 2007.
  • Speer PD*, Powers RW*, Frank MP, Harger G, Markovic N, & Roberts JM. Elevated asymmetric dimethylarginine concentrations precede clinical preeclampsia but not pregnancies with small for gestational age infants. Amer J Obstet Gynecol, 198(1):112.e1-7, Jan. 2008. (*: these individuals contributed equally to this work).
  • Powers RW, Catov JM, Bodnar LM, Gallaher MJ, Lain KY, & Roberts JM. Evidence of endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia and risk of adverse pregnancy outcome. Reprod Sci, 15 (4):374-81, 2008.
  • von Versen-Hoeynck FM, Rajakumar A, Parrott MS, & Powers RW. Leptin affects system A amino acid transport activity in the human placenta: Evidence for STAT3 dependent mechanisms. Placenta, 30(4):361-7, 2009.
  • von Versen-Hoeynck FM, Hubel CA,  Gallaher MJ, Gammill HS, & Powers RW. Plasma levels of inflammatory markers C-reactive protein, sialic acid and neopterin in pregnancy and preeclampsia. Amer J Hyper. 22(6):687-92, 2009. (*2009 Editorial Pick)
  • von Versen-Höynck F, Rajakumar A, Bainbridge SA, Gallaher MJ, Roberts JM, & Powers RW. Human placental adenosine receptor expression is elevated in preeclampsia and hypoxia increases expression of the A2A receptor. Placenta, 30(5):434-42, 2009.
  • Gammill HS, Powers RW, Gersnoviez R, Van Dorsten P, Hauth JC, Klebanoff MA, Lindheimer MD, Sibai B, Landon M, Miodovnik M, Paul R, Dombrowski M, Meis P, & Thurnau, G. For the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network. Does C-reactive protein predict recurrent preeclampsia? 2009. (Accepted to Hypertension in Pregnancy).

Publications on PubMed

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