Production of vasoactive substances by human umbilical vein endothelial cells after incubation with serum from preeclamptic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the in vitro effect of serum from preeclamptic patients on the proliferation, viability and secretion of vasoactive substances by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC).


METHODS
HUVEC were incubated for 24h with sera from 16 preeclamptic, 19 healthy pregnant and 8 healthy nonpregnant women. Proliferation rates were determined by cell counting and vitality by trypan blue staining. The vasoactive substances, 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1alpha), nitrite and nitrate, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured in endothelial cell supernatants.


RESULTS
The preeclamptic serum had no effect on cell proliferation or vitality compared with control sera. It induced more HUVEC production of ET-1, but not of prostacyclin (PGI2) or nitric oxide compared with control serum.


CONCLUSIONS
Preeclamptic serum appears to contain a factor(s) that specifically stimulates ET-1 secretion from HUVEC without altering cell growth or vitality.
Scalera
F
F
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Erlangen/Nuremberg, Universitaetsstr. 2-23, 91054, Erlangen, Germany. fortunato.scalera@gyn.med.uni-erlangen.de
Schlembach
D
D
Beinder
E
E
D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D000328:Adult; D001769:Blood; D002455:Cell Division; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009566:Nitrates / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000378:metabolism; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014471:Umbilical Veins
D003470:Culture Media; D019332:Endothelin-1; D009566:Nitrates; D009573:Nitrites; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D015121:6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha