Abstract
Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of pre-eclampsia. Recently, the superoxide producing enzyme NAD(P)H oxidase was shown to be present in placental trophoblast. In this pilot-study we investigated the NAD(P)H oxidase associated superoxide production as modulator of placental oxidative stress in normotensive pregnancy (n=19; gestational age 38(+6) +/- 0(+1) weeks (+days)) and pre-eclampsia (n= 15; gestational age 34(+3 +/-) 1(+5) weeks (+days)) using a lucigenin assay. Specificity of superoxide generation by NAD(P)H oxidase was assessed using the inhibitors L-NAME, rotenone, allopurinol, DPI and TIRON. Superoxide production was measurable in all placenta tissues and was inhibited by DPI and TIRON. No significant differences for total superoxide production (O-2total), maximal superoxide production (O-2max) or the rate of superoxide production were found between normotensive and pre-eclamptic women. However, women with early onset of disease had a higher O-2total as compared to those with a late onset disease. We conclude that human placenta contains a functional NAD(P)H oxidase that is highly active, which could be an important source of superoxide during pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. These data justify more detailed investigation of the role of NAD(P)H oxidase and placental oxidative stress in complicated pregnancies. (C) 2004 IFPA and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | S85 - S89 |
Journal | Placenta |
Volume | 25 |
Issue number | SUPPL. A |
Publication status | Published - Apr 2004 |
Event | 9th Annual Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations - Mainz, Germany Duration: 1 Jan 2004 → … |