Production of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 in mononuclear cells from preeclamptic women.
OBJECTIVE
Although the changes in prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 levels in preeclampsia have been well studied, little work has previously been done on mononuclear cells, and the cause of the changes in unclear. We determined the prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 production in mononuclear cells and investigated the effect of preeclamptic serum on this production.


METHODS
The production of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 was measured by enzyme immunoassay in 16 normal pregnant women, nine preeclamptic women with proteinuria, and six preeclamptic women without proteinuria. Sera from these three groups of women were investigated to see whether the sera have any effect on prostaglandin production.


RESULTS
The levels of thromboxane A2 in preeclamptic patients were found to be much higher than those of normal pregnancy, whereas the levels of prostacyclin tended to be lower. Such changes lead to a markedly increased ratio of thromboxane A2 to prostacyclin in preeclamptic patients. There was no difference in the levels of prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 between the preeclamptic patients with and without proteinuria. Serum from preeclamptic patients with proteinuria slightly reduced prostacyclin synthesis in normal pregnancy but significantly increased increased thromboxane A2 production, resulting in a ratio of thromboxane A2 to prostacyclin similar to that of preeclampsia. However, serum from preeclamptic patients without proteinuria failed to exert such effects.


CONCLUSIONS
The imbalance between prostacyclin and thromboxane A2 occurs in mononuclear cells from preeclamptic women, and there is a factor(s) in proteinuric-preeclamptic serum to contribute, in part, to these changes. Our findings also suggested that the cause of abnormal prostaglandin production in preeclampsia was complicated and multifactorial.
Chen
G
G
Department of Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, University of Glasgow, U.K.
Wilson
R
R
Cumming
G
G
Walker
J J
JJ
McKillop
J H
JH
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009000:Monocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000097:blood; D012016:Reference Values; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism
D013928:Thromboxane A2; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha; D011464:Epoprostenol