Dr Kirsty Pringle

Biography

Since 2003 I have been researching the normal development and function of both the placenta and how dysregulation of these processes is implicated in a variety of pregnancy pathologies, including preeclampsia. I completed my PhD at the University of Adelaide in 2008 and moved to Newcastle to begin my postdoctoral research with Professor Eugenie Lumbers examining the role of the human intrauterine renin-angiotensin system in normal and abnormal pregnancies.

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Adelaide, 2008
• Bachelor of Science (Honours), University of Adelaide, 2003

Research

Research keywords

• endometrium
• placenta
• preeclampsia
• pregnancy
• renin angiotensin system

Research expertise

My research focuses on the interactions between prorenin, the novel prorenin receptor and the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) in intrauterine tissues.

I have shown for the first time that prorenin, the (pro)renin receptor and other RAS components are present in late gestation human amnion, chorion, decidua and placenta and early gestation human placenta. Placental RAS levels at these early stages of gestation are much greater than in term placentae and are highly correlated with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA levels, suggesting a role for the RAS in placental vasculogenesis.

With Professor Lumbers I have examined the epigenetic and hormonal regulation of prorenin in trophoblasts and decidua, I have examined the expression of circulating prorenin and angiotensin peptides in early pregnancy in women destined to get preeclampsia and gestational hypertension, and have also studied the role of the prorenin/prorenin receptor interaction in the fetal membranes in the initiation of labour.

Languages

• English

Fields of Research

Centres and Groups

Centre

• PRC - Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science (RS)

Group

Memberships

Committee/Associations (relevant to research).

• Member - Society for reproductive Biology