title: Magnesium sulphate prevents lipopolysaccharide-induced cell death in an in vitro model of the human placenta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine if magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) prevents lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced cell death in an in vitro model of the human placenta.
  
  
  METHODS
  BeWo choriocarcinoma cells were treated with increasing concentrations of LPS (10-1000ng/ml) and MgSO4ranging from 1 mM to 100 mM for 24 or 48h. For co-treatments, cells were pre-treated with 1mM MgSO4for 1h and 200ng/ml LPS was then added for the remaining 48h. To assess viability an MTT assay was carried out along with nuclear staining to assess pyknotic nuclei. The expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α was examined by real-time PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MgSO4had a dose dependent effect of cell viability with a narrow therapeutic window. MgSO4(1mM) protected against adverse effects of LPS on cell viability by preventing LPS-induced decreases in cell viability (MTT assay) and protecting against LPS-induced pyknotic changes in nuclear membrane. MgSO4also inhibited the elevated TNF-α mRNA expression induced by LPS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MgSO4preserves BeWo cell viability following an inflammatory insult and reduces the mRNA expression of the inflammatory cytokine TNF-α. These data elucidate a potential therapeutic pathway by which MgSO4may be protective in pre-eclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Rachel D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.affiliation: Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland.
authors.forename: Cathal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.affiliation: Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: l.kenny@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Louise C
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Kenny
authors.affiliation: Irish Centre for Fetal and Neonatal Translational Research (INFANT), Cork University Maternity Hospital, Cork, Ireland; Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland. Electronic address: g.okeeffe@ucc.ie.
authors.forename: Gerard W
authors.initials: GW
authors.lastname: O'Keeffe
mesh_terms: D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016923:Cell Death / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010920:Placenta; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000927:Anticonvulsants; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate