Eicosanoid secretion by human endothelial cells exposed to normal pregnancy and preeclampsia plasma in vitro

Eicosanoids play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The major eicosanoid metabolite reported to be secreted by endothelial cells, the vasodilator prostacyclin, is generally reduced in preeclampsia. By contrast, it was shown previously that prostacyclin secretion by cultured human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells is increased significantly after exposure to blood from preeclamptic women. In the current study, eicosanoid profiles in conditioned media from HUVE cells incubated with pregnancy plasma were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, thin layer chromatography and quantitative radio- and enzyme immunoassays. More prostaglandin F2alpha, prostacyclin and 8-isoprostane were secreted after exposure to plasma from preeclamptic women than plasma from matched, normal pregnant patients. Predominant secretion of the vasoconstrictor prostaglandin F2alpha by HUVE cell cultures and a stimulatory effect of preeclampsia plasma on eicosanoid biosynthesis underscore the importance of bioactive lipids in the vasospasm associated with clinical preeclampsia.