Expression and activity change of angiotensin converting enzyme in the placenta of preeclampsia / 中南大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia.@*METHODS@#A cross-sectional study was conducted with 42 pregnant women in the following categories 30 cases of preeclampsia (mild preeclampsia, n=15; severe preeclampsia, n=15), and normal pregnancy (control group,n=12). The expression and localization of ACE mRNA in the placenta of the 3 groups were respectively examined by in situ hybridization. Ultraviolet radiation colorimetry was used to detect the activity of ACE in the placenta tissue homogenate and the mothers' serum in the 3 groups.@*RESULTS@#The expression of ACE mRNA was found in the endothelial cells of villus and trophoblasts in the placenta. The positive index of ACE mRNA in the placenta of preeclampsia(3.12+/-0.94) was higher than that in the normal pregnancies(1.65+/-0.67) (P<0.05), and there was significant difference between severe preeclampsia and mild preeclampsia (P<0.05). The levels of ACE activity in the placenta tissue homogenate and the maternal serum of preeclampsia were higher than those in the normal pregnancies (P<0.05), and there was significant difference between severe preeclampsia and mild preeclampsia (P<0.05). The placenta tissue homogenate ACE activity was correlated with ACE activity of the maternal serum (r=0.781,P<0.05).@*CONCLUSION@#The expression and activity of local ACE in the placenta tissue may play an important role in preeclampsia and contribute to the development of preeclampsia.