The induction of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in cultured endothelial cells treated with serum from preeclampsia is mediated by interleukin-6.

ABSTRACT

COX-2 protein, but not COX-1 protein, was induced in HUVEC from women with a normal pregnancy (nHUVEC) treated with serum from patients with preeclampsia (pSerum), but not with serum from women with a normal pregnancy (nSerum). COX activity in pSerum treated nHUVEC was less than in nSerum treated nHUVEC. Interestingly, the induction of COX-2 protein in nHUVEC treated with pSerum was inhibited by antiIL-6 antibody. The decreased COX activity in nHUVEC treated with pSerum plus antiIL-6 antibody was also reversed in a dose dependent manner. Thus, the induction of COX-2 in pSerum treated nHUVEC was mediated by IL-6. Therefore, the development of selective inhibitors of COX-2 or of IL-6 antagonists may have a potential role in the prevention and treatment of preeclampsia.