title: Vitamin D Supplementation Suppresses Hypoxia-Stimulated Placental Cytokine Secretion, Hypertension and CD4+T Cell Stimulation in Response to Placental Ischemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate a role of Vitamin D in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE), and to discern any potential benefits of Vitamin D supplementation on hypertension in the RUPP rat model of PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood and placentas from normal pregnancies (NP) and PE were collected following elective cesarean delivery without evidence of infection. Circulating Vitamin D was extracted by HPLC and measured via mass spectrometry. Media for placenta explants was supplemented with Vitamin D and exposed to hypoxic (1% O2) or normoxic (6% O2) conditions for 24 hours. ELISAs were performed on media and normalized to total protein to determine cytokine secretion. RUPP rats were supplemented with vitamin D by oral gavage, and blood pressure (MAP) and pup weights were measured in NP and RUPP rats with or without Vitamin D supplementation. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate CD4+Tcells in control RUPP rats and RUPP rats treated with Vitamin D.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Inflammatory cytokine secretion was higher (p<0.05) while the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, was significantly lower in the media of PE placentas compared to NP (p=0.005). Vitamin D supplementation decreased hypoxia stimulated pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion (p=0.003) in the media of PE placentas. Vitamin D decreased MAP and circulating CD4+T cells in the RUPP rat model of PE (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vitamin D supplementation may be useful in the treatment or prevention of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Marie M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Darby
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Kedra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wallace
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cornelius
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Krystal T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chatman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Janae N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Mosely
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: James N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Purser
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Rodney C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Baker
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology/Toxicology, University of Mississippi Medical Center, USA.
authors.forename: B Babbette
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Lamarca
keywords: Cytokines; Hypertension; Preeclampsia; Vitamin D