title: Effects of hypoxia on heme oxygenase expression in human chorionic villi explants and immortalized trophoblast cells.
abstract: Although hypoxia induces heme oxygenase (HO)-1 protein and mRNA expression in many cell types, hypoxia has also been shown to decrease HO-1 mRNA and protein expression. We tested the hypothesis that 24-h preexposure to hypoxia in human placental preparations suppresses HO protein expression and enzymatic function. Immortalized HTR-8/SVneo first-trimester trophoblast cells and explants of normal human chorionic villi (CV) from term placentas were cultured for 24 h in 1%, 5%, or 20% O(2). HO protein levels were determined by Western blot analysis, and microsomal HO activity was measured. HO-2 protein content was decreased by 17% and 5% in human trophoblast cells after 24-h exposure to 1% and 5% O(2), respectively, versus 20% O(2). In contrast, HO-2 protein content in CV explants was unaffected by changes in oxygenation. HO-1 protein content, which was barely detectable in both biological systems, was not affected by changes in oxygenation. Similarly, HO enzymatic activity was unchanged in both preparations after 24-h exposure to 1%, 5%, or 20% O(2). The above data do not support the hypothesis that hypoxia in the human placenta suppresses both HO protein content and HO protein function. The present observations reinforce the necessity to determine both HO protein expression and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 3N6.
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Appleton
authors.forename: G S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Marks
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakatsu
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Brien
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lash
mesh_terms: D015153:Blotting, Western; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000502:physiology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006418:Heme; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism*; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008705:Methemalbumin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008861:Microsomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D008705:Methemalbumin; D006418:Heme; C496541:HMOX1 protein, human; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1; C105245:heme oxygenase-2