HSP70-mediated control of endothelial cell apoptosis during pre-eclampsia

Pre-eclampsia is a hypertensive disorder characterized by maternal vascular endothelial dysfunction. It is likely that this enhanced rate of endothelial cell stress is associated with the pre- and post-partum complications of both mother and fetus. Deciphering the expression pattern of factors involved in altering placental endothelial cell viability in pre-eclampsia aids in identifying components that may protect the fetus from the consequences of placental dysfunction and oxidative stress.

Expression of thioredoxin (Trx), an antioxidant protein; heat shock protein (HSP) 70, a cytoprotective protein; heat shock factor (HSF)1, a transcriptional factor of HSPs; and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1), a pro-apoptotic protein, was elucidated in endothelial cells from human term placentas of normotensive and pre-eclamptic subjects (n=35).

A significant increase in HSP70 (p<0.05), HSF1 (p<0.05), Trx (p<0.05) and an insignificant increase in ASK1 were noted in pre-eclamptic endothelial cells.

This analysis supports the role of HSP70 expression in promoting cell survival by regulating ASK expression in pre-eclampsia.