In major breakthrough, researchers close in on potential preeclampsia cure

Preeclampsia affects up to eight per cent of pregnancies globally and is the leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality due to premature delivery, complications with the placenta and lack of oxygen.

Researchers from Western and Brown University have identified a toxic protein, cis P-tau, a "troublemaker" that plays a major role in causing the complication.

The root cause of preeclampia has remained unknown, and without a known cause there has been no cure.

A stress-response enzyme called Pin1 is a key player in cancer signalling networks, turning on numerous cancer-causing proteins and turning off many cancer-suppressing ones.

When there's a decrease or deactivation in Pin1, it results in the formation of the toxic protein cis P-tau , which leads to memory loss in Alzheimer's and after TBI or stroke.

"The results have far-reaching implications. This could revolutionize how we understand and treat a range of conditions," said Lu .