Altered release of endothelin-1,2 and thromboxane B2 from trophoblastic cells in pre-eclampsia

The aim of the study was to investigate whether pre-eclampsia is associated with an altered release of vasoactive substances from trophoblastic cells in vitro. Trophoblastic cells from 15 uncomplicated control pregnancies and 18 pre-eclamptic pregnancies at preterm (weeks 31-36; n = 12) and term (weeks 37-40; n = 21) were cultured for 5 days. The concentrations of angiotensin II (AII), endothelin-1,2 (ET-1,2), thromboxane B2 (TXB2), 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) were measured daily in culture media for 5 days by radioimmunoassay. In pre-eclampsia, concentrations of ET-1,2 were decreased (P < 0.01) at both preterm and term, TXB2 concentrations were increased (P < 0.05) only at preterm and the TXB2-6-keto-PGF1 alpha ratio was increased at both preterm and term (P < 0.01) as compared with the controls. Concentrations of AII, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and LTB4 were similar to the controls. The data suggest that pre-eclampsia is associated with a decreased release of ET-1 and an increased release of TXB2 from trophoblastic cells in vitro.