Published in:
01-01-2004 | Original Article
Levels of oxidative stress and redox-related molecules in the placenta in preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction
Authors:
Yasushi Takagi, Toshio Nikaido, Toshihiko Toki, Naoko Kita, Makoto Kanai, Takashi Ashida, Satoshi Ohira, Ikuo Konishi
Published in:
Virchows Archiv
|
Issue 1/2004
Login to get access
Abstract
Recent evidence suggests that oxidative stress is involved in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Using immunohistochemistry and Western blotting, we investigated the oxidative stress- and redox-related molecules, such as 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), thioredoxin (TRX) and redox factor-1 (ref-1) in the placenta in preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), preeclampsia + IUGR and in normal pregnancy. Using immunohistochemistry, the level of 8-OHdG was significantly higher in IUGR (P=0.012) or preeclampsia + IUGR (P=0.0021) than in normal pregnancy, while TRX expression was significantly higher in preeclampsia (P=0.045), and ref-1 expression was significantly higher in preeclampsia (P=0.017), IUGR (P=0.016) and preeclampsia + IUGR (P=0.0038) than in normal pregnancy. The levels of 4-HNE did not differ significantly between either preeclampsia or IUGR and normal pregnancy. A significant positive correlation was observed between TRX and ref-1 expressions in both normal (ρ=0.52) and complicated (ρ=0.43) pregnancies. Using Western blotting, ref-1 expression tended to be higher in complicated pregnancies than in normal pregnancy (P=0.09). These results suggest that oxidative DNA damage is increased in IUGR and that redox function is enhanced in both preeclampsia and IUGR compared with normal pregnancy.