Oxidative stress alters the integrity of cell-free mRNA fragments associated with placenta-derived syncytiotrophoblast microparticles.
OBJECTIVE
Cell-free fetal RNA from placental origin is present in the peripheral blood of pregnant women. Therefore, its qualitative analysis might provide insights into the physiological condition of the placenta. Here, we examine whether oxidative stress affects the integrity of placentally derived mRNA in vitro.


METHODS
Placental explants were cultured under normal or oxidative conditions, and the levels of placental and syncytiotrophoblast microparticle associated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase 3' versus 5' mRNA fragments were analyzed by real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The relative ratio of 3' to 5' mRNA fragments associated with placental microparticles was significantly altered upon culture under oxidative stress.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data suggest that oxidative stress reduces the levels of full-length, particle-associated glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase mRNA transcripts released by the placenta. Therefore, analysis of the microparticle-coupled mRNA integrity in pregnant women might prove useful to diagnose disorders such as preeclampsia, where placental oxidative stress is involved.
Rusterholz
Corinne
C
Laboratory for Prenatal Medicine, Department of Research, University Women's Hospital, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. crusterholz@uhbs.ch
Holzgreve
Wolfgang
W
Hahn
Sinuhe
S
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015687:Cell Hypoxia; D005260:Female; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010920:Placenta / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000378:metabolism; D020871:RNA Stability; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases