title: PP119. The role of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Preeclampsia is a multi-organ syndrome characterized by maternal endothelial damage, is an independent long-term risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In animal models the administration of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) could reverse the hypertensive signs accompanying this disease. In addition VEGF is implicated in placental oxidative stress during preeclampsia. One of the major cellular defence mechanisms against oxidative stress is the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2). Therefore, the activation of Nrf2 up regulates the HO-1/CO system. The principal aim of this work is to investigate whether the activation of Nrf2 raises VEGF levels by up regulation of CO release.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study took place in vitro, the choriocarcinoma cell line BeWo cells and the primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to study the relationship between VEGF and an Nrf2 inducer Sulforaphane, a naturally occurring compound derived from broccoli. ELISA, Western blot assay and the Dual Luciferase Assay were both mainly applied for protein and VEGF activity analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that activation of HO-1 expression via Nrf2/ARE pathway augmented the production of CO, which in turn up-regulated the gene expression of VEGF, and down regulated the production of the antiangiogenic protein, the VEGF antagonist sFlt-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nrf2 driven HO-1 expression elevates the levels of VEGF via CO production. In particular, activating of Nrf2 via sulforaphane, may have therapeutic potential in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kweider
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fragoulis
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital RWTH, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Pecks
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University Hospital RWTH, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rath
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kadyrov
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pufe
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wruck