title: Apoptotic and stress signaling markers are augmented in preeclamptic placenta and umbilical cord.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia (preE) has a significant link to alterations of placental function leading to stress and apoptotic signaling, which pass the placental barrier and leave persistent defect in the circulation of the offspring. We assessed apoptotic signaling in placentas and umbilical cords from patients with and without preE.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected placental and cord tissues from 27 normal pregnant (NP) women and 20 preE consenting patients after delivery in an IRB approved prospective study. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) phosphorylation, pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), anti-apoptotic Bcl-2, caspase-9, and pro-inflammatory cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) were evaluated by western blot and immunohistochemistry. Comparisons were performed using Student's t-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  p38 phosphorylation (Placenta: 1.5 fold, Cord: 1.7 fold), ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 (Placenta: 1.7 fold, Cord: 2.2 fold), caspase-9 (Placenta: 1.5 fold, Cord: 1.8 fold) and Cox-2 (Placenta: 2.5 fold, Cord: 2.3 fold) were up-regulated (p < 0.05) in preE compared to NP patients. Average hospital stays for preE babies were longer than NP babies. No complications were reported for NP babies; however, all of preE babies had multiple complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Apoptotic and stress signaling are augmented in preE placenta and cord tissue that alter the intrauterine environment and activates the detrimental signaling that is transported to fetus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Syeda H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Afroze
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Ram R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Kalagiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Jacqueline D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Zimmerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Madhava R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Beeram
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Drever
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Physiology, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Zawieja
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kuehl
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Baylor Scott & White Health, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Mohammad N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Uddin
keywords: Apoptotic; Placenta; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Stress