title: [Effect of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A on the function of endothelial cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) on the function of vascular endothelial cells (VEC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) line, derived from human umbilical vein, was cultured in vitro with PAPP-A at 0, 50, 100, and 200 ng/mL for 0, 12, 24, and 48 hours, respectively. Nitric oxide (NO) levels and endothlin-1 (ET-1) levels were determined by spectrophotometer and immunehistory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The NO levels of HUVECs in the PAPP-A groups were significantly lower than those in the control group (P<0.05). The ET-1 levels of HUVECs in the PAPP-A groups were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). The changes were all dose-dependent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAPP-A may affect the function of vascular endothelial cells by reducing the secretion of NO and increasing the level of ET-1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovasology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Jiangang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Weihong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Wenguang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yi
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011266:Pregnancy-Associated Plasma Protein-A