Placental expression of eNOS, iNOS and the major protein components of caveolae in women with pre-eclampsia.

Caveolae regulate many cardiovascular functions and thus could be of interest in relation to pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy specific disorder characterised by hypertension and proteinuria. We examined placental mRNA and protein expression/localisation of the caveolae components Caveolin 1-3, Cavin 1-4 as well as eNOS/iNOS in normotensive control (n = 24) and pre-eclamptic pregnancies (n = 19). Placental mRNA expression of caveolin-1, cavin 1-3, was lower and eNOS expression was increased in pre-eclampsia (P < 0.05 for all). Additionally Caveolin-1 protein expression was also reduced in pre-eclampsia (P = 0.007); this could be an adaptive response in pre-eclampsia, possibly to attenuate the oxidative stress/inflammation.

PP040. Expression of RANTES (CCL5) in maternal plasma, fetal plasma and placenta in pre-eclampsia and normotensive controls.

INTRODUCTION: Studies have shown pre-eclampsia (PE) as an exacerbation of gestational inflammatory process. RANTES (Regulated upon Activation, Normal T-cell Expressed, and Secreted)/CCL5 is a chemokine, which is involved in chronic inflammation by the recruitment of inflammatory cells. It is secreted by many cell types such as endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, platelets and activated T-cells. Thus we hypothesized that RANTES expression is altered in PE and may be different in gestational tissues (maternal plasma, fetal plasma and placenta). OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study is to analyze the expression of RANTES (CCL5) in three different tissues: maternal plasma, fetal plasma and placenta, in PE and normotensive controls (NC). METHODS: PE was diagnosed by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group Report on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy guidelines. The patients were assisted in the São Lucas Hospital from PUCRS, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Following ethical approval and informed written consent, maternal and umbilical plasma and placental biopsies were taken from 33 PE and 35 NC. Samples were centrifuged immediately after blood collection and plasma was stored at -80°C until assay. Placental Biopsies were taken midway between the cord and periphery, from the central region of cotyledons and were stored as well. RANTES expression was made by the ELISA test, in duplicates. They were also analyzed in each group: maternal age, maternal parity, gestational age on delivery, glucose, body mass index, proteinúria creatinuria ratio, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), delivery method, birth weight, placental weight and Apgar index in 1st and 5th minute. RESULTS: Maternal age at the time of blood collection was not significantly different between the two groups. The women with preeclampsia delivered earlier and had smaller babies compared with the controls. Significant associations between groups (p<0.001) were seen in SBP, DBP, birth weight and delivery method. RANTES was increased in maternal plasma and placenta in patients with PE and decreased in fetus plasma in the same group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In this study, we have shown that RANTES expression in maternal plasma and placenta tissues, in women with established pre-eclampsia, is higher than in gestation-matched women with a healthy pregnancy. It confirms the hypotheses that physiology of PE is associated with an increase of normal gestational inflammatory process. However in fetus tissue, the inflammatory chemokine is decreased in PE women. FUNDING: CAPES Foundation, Ministry of Education of Brazil, Brasília - DF 70040-020, Brazil.

PP050. Distribution of ABO and Rhesus blood groups in patients withpre-eclampsia.

INTRODUCTION: The ABO-system of antigens and the Rh-system (D-antigen) is genetically determined and remains the most important blood group systems clinically. Several studies have examined the association between ABO and Rhesus blood group systems and pre-eclampsia. At present there is no consensus to define this association, especially not in a Brazilian population. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the association between pre-eclampsia versus ABO and Rhesus blood group systems in pregnant women hospitalized in a University Hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil -Hospital São Lucas (HSL). METHODS: Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E) was diagnosed by the National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group Report on High Blood Pressure in Pregnancy guidelines. This study consisted of 14,894 pregnant women admitted to the Maternity Department between 2005 and 2010. The patients were reviewed retrospectively for inclusion. Complications in pregnancy not related to pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E) and those with uncompleted data were excluded. Medical records of 410 women were used to diagnose PE/E. The control group consisted of 8781 women. Each group was subdivided according to their blood groups. RESULTS: In comparison to the PE/E women and controls, no specific relation in blood groups was observed. With respect to ABO and Rh groups, no differences between PE/E and controls were observed (P=0.479 and P=0.169 respectively). When analyzed with both Rh and ABO Pearson Chi-Square also showed no differences (P=0.569). CONCLUSION: This study aimed to demonstrate some association between blood groups and PE/E using a large sample from the south of Brazil, a population not investigated before. In our study, no specific differences were observed between PE/E and controls in the distribution of the blood groups. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest no association between ABO and Rhesus blood group systems and PE/E in our population. FUNDING: CAPES Foundation-Ministry of Education of Brazil.