Decidual expression and maternal serum levels of heme oxygenase 1 are increased in pre-eclampsia.
BACKGROUND
Pre-eclampsia (PE) is associated with increased oxidative stress and excessive maternal inflammatory response. Heme oxygenase 1 (HMOX1) is an important stress response enzyme and a mediator of cytoprotection against a wide variety of tissue injuries.


METHODS
In the present study, microarray technology was used to compare the expression of HMOX1 and other genes involved in stress and inflammatory responses in decidua basalis from 16 pregnancies complicated by PE and 17 healthy controls. In addition, the presence of HMOX1 protein in decidua basalis was examined by means of immunohistochemistry, and ELISA was used to measure the maternal serum concentration of HMOX1.


RESULTS
Fifteen transcripts involved in stress response including HMOX1 were up-regulated in cases, using a cut-off value at p=0.01. HMOX1 protein expression in decidua basalis was significantly increased in cases compared to controls reflected by more pronounced intensity of HMOX1 positive decidual cells (1.8+/-0.3 versus 1.5+/-0.4, p=0.02) and an increased proportion of HMOX1 positive decidual leukocytes (31+/-29 versus 9+/-6%, p=0.001). Finally, serum HMOX1 levels were significantly higher among cases compared to controls (3.1+/-1.3 versus 1.9+/-0.5 ng/ml, p=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased decidual and serum HMOX1 levels, together with altered decidual expression of some stress-related genes in cases, support the role of oxidative stress and excessive maternal inflammatory response in the pathogenesis of PE.
Eide
Irina P
IP
Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Children's and Women's Health, Trondheim, Norway. irina.p.eide@ntnu.no
Isaksen
Christina V
CV
Salvesen
Kjell A
KA
Langaas
Mette
M
Schønberg
Svanhild A
SA
Austgulen
Rigmor
R
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003656:Decidua / Q000201:enzymology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1