Zeynep Kamil Med J. 2025; 56(2): 73-77 | DOI: 10.14744/zkmj.2024.33866

Diagnostic value of endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced proteins in intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy

Önder Tosun¹, Esra Keleþ², Sultan Seren Karakuþ¹, Reyyan Gökçen Iþcan¹, Zeynep Tosun³, Çiðdem Yayla Abi&775;de⁴, Ismail Dað⁵, Lütfiye Uygur^6
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Health Sciences, Turkey. Istanbul Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children’s Diseases Health Training and Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey
²Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Health Sciences University, Kartal Lutfi Kirdar City Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
³Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Sciences University, Haydarpasa Numune Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
⁴Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Uskudar University Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
⁵Department of Medical Biochemistry, Eyupsultan State Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey
⁶Department of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of Health Sciences, Turkey. Istanbul Zeynep Kamil Maternity and Children’s Diseases Health Training and Research Center, Istanbul, Turkey

INTRODUCTION: This study aimed to investigate the potential diagnostic value of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-induced proteins, namely heat shock protein A5 (HSPA5) (also known as GRP78) and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP), in maternal serum for identifying patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).
METHODS: A prospective case-control study was conducted with 37 pregnant women diagnosed with ICP and 36 healthy pregnant controls. Serum HSPA5 and CHOP levels were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.
RESULTS: While HSPA5 and CHOP levels were higher in the ICP group compared to the control group, the differences were not statistically significant (p-values of 0.164 and 0.310, respectively).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The findings of this investigation did not yield sufficient evidence to validate the use of serum HSPA5 and CHOP levels for diagnosing ICP. Further research with larger sample sizes and exploration of placental tissue levels are warranted.

Keywords: CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (CHOP), endoplasmic reticulum (ER), glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78, BIP, HSPA5), intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).

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