Examination of the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in placenta villi from sufferers of pregnancy induced hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the roles of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin I(2) (PGI(2)) synthase in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH).


METHODS
In placentas from normal pregnant women and pregnant women with severe PIH, the enzyme expression of PLA(2), COX-2, and PGI(2) synthase was measured using real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
The expression of each enzyme was compared between normal (n=12) and PIH (n=12) groups. The expression levels of COX-2 and PGI(2) synthase during PIH pregnancy were significantly decreased to about 51% and 68%, respectively, of their values in normal pregnancy. However, the expression of PLA(2) was hardly changed by PIH.


CONCLUSIONS
The decreases in COX-2 and PGI(2) synthase expression in severe PIH placentas may be causal factors in the disruption of the PGI(2)-thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2)) balance in favor of TXA(2). The decrease in COX-2 was more marked than that of PGI(2) synthase.
Okawara
Masaki
M
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Josai University, Keyakidai, Sakado, Saitama 350-0295, Japan. okawara@josai.ac.jp
Seki
Hiroyuki
H
Matsuoka
Kikumi
K
Hashimoto
Fumie
F
Hayashi
Hidenori
H
Takeda
Satoru
S
D002824:Chorionic Villi / Q000378:metabolism*; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000201:enzymology*; D054467:Phospholipases A2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D054467:Phospholipases A2