title: Placental 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in normotensive and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
abstract: Apparent mineralocorticoid excess and licorice induced hypertension, both hypertensive disorders, have been attributed to a defect in the enzyme 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11 beta-HSD), which interconverts cortisol to cortisone. Therefore, we undertook this study to determine the role of human placental 11 beta-HSD activity in preeclampsia, which is a hypertensive disorder in pregnancy. 11 beta-HSD activities were determined in placentas of 17 normotensive and 11 preeclamptic patients matched for gestational age at 34-42 weeks. Cortisol levels in umbilical venous and arterial sera were also determined for both groups. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t-test, significance at p < 0.05. 11 beta-dehydrogenase (oxidation activity of 11 beta-HSD) activity was significantly lower in placentas of preeclamptic compared to normotensive patients (0.19 +/- 0.09 vs. 0.26 +/- 0.08 mmoles/min/placenta, p = 0.02). Cortisol level in umbilical cord blood was significantly higher in the preeclamptic group (14.99 +/- 14.08 vs. 6.71 +/- 3.69 g/dL, p = 0.02). The decreased 11 beta-HSD activity is accompanied by an expected increase in umbilical cord blood cortisol level and decrease in fetal weight. This enzyme may play an important role in influencing fetal growth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Health Science Center at Brooklyn, State University of New York 11203, USA.
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: McCalla
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Nacharaju
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Muneyyirci-Delale
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Glasgow
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Feldman
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009243:NAD / Q000378:metabolism; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third
chemical_list: D009243:NAD; D009249:NADP; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases