title: Placental CoQ10 levels in HELLP syndrome.
abstract: Oxidative stress is considered a key factor in HELLP syndrome, a severe complication of preeclampsia in pregnancy. In the present study we analysed the content of Coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10)), a fundamental component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and recognized lipophilic antioxidant, in placentas from women affected by HELLP syndrome and compared them with the relative controls. Twenty-eight patients with HELLP syndrome and twenty-eight age-matched healthy pregnant controls were enrolled. Two aliquots of placental tissue were taken immediately after delivery and placed into liquid nitrogen. Thawed samples were homogenised by Ultra-Turrax; total protein and CoQ(10) concentration were thereafter analysed. CoQ(10) concentration was 0.162 +/- 0.07 microg/mg protein in HELLP syndrome versus 0.87 +/- 0.003 microg/mg protein in controls, the difference being highly significant. A positive correlation, within the placentas from HELLP, was found between the weight of the new-born and CoQ(10)/protein ratio. A significant positive correlation was also present between CoQ(10)/protein ratio and Apgar at 1st and 5th minute as well as between CoQ(10)/protein ratio and the median cerebral artery pulsatility index. The increase in placental CoQ(10) in this syndrome might derive from a compensatory mechanism in a situation of increased oxidative stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polytechnic University of the Marche, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Giannubilo
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tranquilli
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santolini
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prinicipi
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mancinelli
authors.forename: Gian Paolo
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Littarru
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003067:Coenzymes; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014451:Ubiquinone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003067:Coenzymes; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10