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Methods to observe and weaken the influence of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A on endothelial cell function
Li-ping Peng1, Kan Yang2, Wei-hong Jiang1
1Department of Cardiology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.
Objective:
To investigate the effect of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) contraction and relaxation function. We also investigated some effects of pregnancy serum, which was voluntarily provided by women who were 9 months pregnant, on PAPP-A function and endothelial cell function.
Methods:
HUVECs were cultured in vitro with PAPP-A at 0, 50, 100, and 200 ng/mL for 0, 12, 24, 48 hours. HUVECs were also pretreated for 12 hours with pregnancy serum before in vitro culture in the presence or absence of PAPP-A (50 ng/mL). Nitric oxide (NO) levels in cell supernatants were assessed using spectrophotometry. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) levels were determined using immunohistochemistry assays and quantified by mean optical density (MOD).
Results:
The NO levels of HUVECs in the PAPP-A groups were significantly lower compared to the control group (P<0.05), whereas ET-1 levels in PAPP-A HUVECs were significantly higher compared to the control group (P<0.05.) Additionally, these effects were dose-dependent. The NO levels of HUVECs in the PAPP-A groups with pregnancy serum were higher compared to the control group (P<0.05). ET-1 levels in PAPP-A HUVECs with pregnancy serum were lower than in the control group (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
PAPP-A may affect HUVEC contraction and relaxation by reducing NO secretion and increasing ET-1 levels. In addition, pregnancy serum may affect PAPP-A function on vascular endothelial cells.
