title: Placental expression of endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase and NO metabolism in gestational hypertension: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypertension is one of the most common medical disorders in pregnancy and a role of nitric oxide (NO) metabolism has been described. Thus, the present work aimed at determining placental gene expression of eNOS and iNOS, to measure NO and ONOO(-) levels in patients with gestational hypertension (GH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with GH and 15 healthy pregnant controls were enrolled in the study. Placental tissue was taken immediately after delivery and was stored at -80 °C until analysis. A piece of frozen tissue was homogenized in the appropriate buffer. Total RNA was extracted and was reverse transcribed to obtain complementary DNA that was used for real-time PCR for iNOS and eNOS expression, whereas NO and ONOO(-) production were measured by commercially available kits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Placental eNOS and iNOS mRNA levels were significantly reduced in GH when compared to controls. NO and ONOO(-) production were both significantly higher in GH than controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduced eNOS and iNOS gene expression in women with GH reinforces the hypothesis that the mechanisms involving NO pathways, may promote oxidative damage, by contributing to the reduced blood flow and increased resistance in the feto-maternal circulation and suggests the use of NO modulators as useful tools in GH management.
authors.affiliation: a Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics and.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vignini
authors.affiliation: a Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics and.
authors.forename: Monia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cecati
authors.affiliation: a Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics and.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nanetti
authors.affiliation: a Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics and.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Raffaelli
authors.affiliation: b Section of Woman Health Science, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine , Polytechnic University of Marche , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ciavattini
authors.affiliation: b Section of Woman Health Science, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine , Polytechnic University of Marche , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Giannubilo
authors.affiliation: a Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics and.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzanti
authors.affiliation: a Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics and.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Saccucci
authors.affiliation: b Section of Woman Health Science, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine , Polytechnic University of Marche , Ancona , Italy.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Emanuelli
authors.affiliation: a Section of Biochemistry, Biology and Physics and.
authors.forename: Andrea L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Tranquilli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D030421:Peroxynitrous Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
keywords: GH; NO; ONOO−; eNOS and iNOS gene expression; placenta