[The effect of plasma from women with preeclampsia on endothelial cells activators in vitro]

To study the effect of plasma from women with preeclampsia on endothelial cell activators in vitro and determine whether factor(s) in the plasma of women with preeclampsia induces activation of vascular endothelial cells.

Twenty women with preeclampsia and 15 normal ones at late trimester of pregnancy were studied, from whom maternal venous blood samples were collected. Plasma 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, the end products of prostacyclin (PGI2) and TXB2, the end products of thromboxane A2(TXA2), were measured by radioimmunoassay. Plasma from women with preeclampsia or from normal women at late trimester was added to the bovine pulmonary microvessel endothelial cells in vitro. Twenty-four hours later, levels of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha produced by cultured endothelial cells were measured.

The mean values of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in matrnal venous plasma were (94.49 +/- 25.23) ng/L in preeclamptic group and (248.81 +/- 51.99) ng/L in normal pregnant group. Plasma TXB2 values were (104.61 +/- 13.12) ng/L in preeclamptic group and (66.26 +/- 38.80) ng/L in normal pregnant group. TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratios were (1.11 +/- 0.03) in preeclamptic group and (0.28 +/- 0.02) in normal pregnant group. Maternal plasma values of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha were lower in peeclamptic group than those of normal pregnant group (P < 0.01). On the other hand, plasma TXB2 values were higher in preeclamptic group than in normal pregnant group (P < 0.01). TXB2/6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratios, however, were significantly different between the two groups (P < 0.01). The values of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha produced by cultured endothelial cells exposed to 2% plasma were (1,363.00 +/- 99.16) ng/L in preeclamptic group and (819.49 +/- 96.62) ng/L in normal pregnant group (P < 0.01).

PGI2 and TXA2 may play an important role in preeclampsia. Plasma from women with preeclampsia could stimulate the production of prostacyclin in cultured endothelial cells in vitro.