Plasma from preeclamptic women stimulates decidual endothelial cell growth and prostacyclin but not nitric oxide production: close correlation of prostacyclin and thromboxane production.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the effect of plasma from preeclamptic women on production of the vasoactive substances prostacyclin, thromboxane, nitric oxide, and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) by decidual endothelial cells; to determine any effects on cell growth and health; and to examine whether cells from preeclamptic women are activated compared with cells from normal women.

METHODS

Decidual endothelial cells from normal and preeclamptic women were incubated for 24 hours in media containing 10% plasma from preeclamptic women or matched normal women. Prostacyclin and thromboxane production was measured, as was nitric oxide and cGMP production after a further 45-minute generation period in 2% test plasma. Cell numbers and lactate dehydrogenase release were also determined.

RESULTS

In plasma from preeclamptic women, cells grew significantly faster (P <.05), prostacyclin production was increased (P <.05), and lactate dehydrogenase release was reduced (P <.01). Production of thromboxane, nitric oxide, and cGMP was not significantly affected. Decidual endothelial cells from preeclamptic women had increased growth (P <.0001) and produced more prostacyclin (P <.05) and nitric oxide (P <.001) than normal decidual endothelial cells. There were highly significant correlations between prostacyclin and thromboxane production for incubations in plasmas from preeclamptic women and between background levels of prostacyclin in each plasma from preeclamptic women and the prostacyclin produced in incubations containing that plasma (P <.0001).

CONCLUSION

We found that plasma from preeclamptic women contained a factor that stimulated endothelial cell growth and regulated production of related amounts of prostacyclin and thromboxane. The plasma level of this factor appeared to be related to background levels of prostacyclin. The results also indicated that decidual endothelial cells from preeclamptic women were in a relatively activated state.