title: Increased Heme Oxygenase-1 and Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor-2 in the Placenta Have a Cooperative Action on Preeclampsia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have shown that oxidative stress is an important factor in preeclampsia (PE). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) are protective proteins that are involved in combating oxidative stress in the body. Nrf2 is also an essential upstream transcription factor regulating HO-1. This study was aimed at exploring the physiological roles of HO-1 and Nrf2 in PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum and placenta were collected from 30 patients who presented with severe PE and 30 healthy pregnant females. HO-1 and Nrf2 levels in placenta were measured. Following stimulation of the HTR-8/SVneo cell line with tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), an Nrf2 activator, nuclear Nrf2 protein and HO-1 mRNA levels were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the healthy pregnancy group, HO-1 protein and mRNA levels were increased in placental samples obtained from the severe PE group (p < 0.01, p < 0.05). Similar increases were also observed for Nrf2 protein levels (p < 0.01). Nuclear Nrf2 protein and HO-1 mRNA levels were both increased in the HTR-8/SVneo cell line following stimulation with tBHQ (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with severe PE may be protected against oxidative injury following an elevation in HO-1 and Nrf2 levels. Nrf2 is likely to have a synergistic effect on HO-1 in PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yuanhua
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Qunying
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiaojin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xietong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy
chemical_list: D051267:NF-E2-Related Factor 2; C495635:NFE2L2 protein, human; D051547:Heme Oxygenase-1