title: Low molecular weight heparin decreases the permeability of glomerular endothelial cells when exposed to pre-eclampsia serum in vitro.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) has been used to treat certain kidney diseases such as pre-eclampsia, in which extensive levels of proteinuria are associated with dysfunction of glomerular endothelium. In our study, we investigated whether LMWH could affect the permeability of and ET-1 expression in human glomerular endothelial cells (GEnC) incubated with pre-eclampsia serum.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum from pre-eclampsia patients was collected and incubated with GEnC in the absence or presence of LMWH. We assessed the permeability of glomerular endothelial monolayer by measuring the amount of bovine serum albumin (BSA) that crosses into the lower chamber of a trans-well device. In addition, we measured ET-1 mRNA expression levels in and proliferation and apoptotic rates of GEnC exposed to pre-eclampsia serum with or without LMWH.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The permeability of ET-1 mRNA expression in GEnC increased upon incubation with pre-eclampsia serum, but decreased significantly when LMWH was added. The presence of LMWH did not alter the proliferation and apoptosis of GEnC incubated with pre-eclampsia serum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Low molecular weight heparin maintains the integrity of the kidney probably by strengthening the defence of glomerular endothelium.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Yuqi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Xinwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Fuyuan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Qiao
authors.forename: Haiyi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007678:Kidney Glomerulus / Q000098:blood supply*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D044967:Serum / Q000378:metabolism*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1; D006495:Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine