NAMPT levels are inversely related to nitric oxide formation and positively related to soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 levels in preeclampsia

Abstract NAMPT is a biomarker for endothelial dysfunction, but its relationship with nitrite (marker of NO formation) and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFLT-1) has not been previously evaluated in preeclampsia. Therefore, we measured plasma NAMPT and sFLT-1 levels using enzyme immunoassays and plasma nitrite concentrations using an ozone-based chemiluminescence assay. NAMPT was positively correlated to nitrite (r = 0.217; P = 0.034) and inversely related to sFLT-1 (r = −0.340; P = 0.029) in healthy pregnant women, but inversely related to nitrite (r = −0.259; P = 0.035) and positively correlated to sFLT-1 (r = 0.326; P = 0.007) in preeclamptic patients, suggesting that NAMPT inhibits NO formation and interacts with the antiangiogenic factor sFLT-1 in preeclampsia.