Placental CoQ10 levels in HELLP syndrome.
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.
Giannubilo
Stefano R
SR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Polytechnic University of the Marche, Ancona, Italy.
Tranquilli
Andrea L
AL
Santolini
Cristina
C
Prinicipi
Federica
F
Mancinelli
Romina
R
Littarru
Gian Paolo
GP
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
D003067:Coenzymes; D014451:Ubiquinone; C024989:coenzyme Q10