ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: In order to assess the effects of sera from severe preeclamptic patients on endothelial cell viability in vitro and endothelin-1 synthesis in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. METHODS: The cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells were incubated with media containing 10% sera from women with either preeclamptic patients or normal pregnancies for 24 hours or 48 hours. After then, their viability was measured by colorimetric MTT{3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2yl)2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide} assay and their production of endothelin-1 was measured. We also measured the serum levels of endothelin-1 level in sera obtained from the normal and severe preeclamptic pregnancies. RESULTS: The calorimetric MTT assay revealed that after 24 hours, the absorbances in the media treated with normal pregnancies and severe preeclampsia sera were 0.0718+/-0.0078 and 0.0837+/-0.0129, respectively and after 48 hours, they were 0.1133+/-0.0103 and 0.1268+/-0.0186, respectively. Serum obtained from severe preeclampsia did not affect endothelial cell viability. 2. The serum mean levels of endothelin-1 in normal and severe preeclamptic pregnancies were 22.66+/-8.6 fmol/ml and 48.98+/-25.27 fmol/ml. The mean level in preeclamptic sera was significantly higher than that of normal pregnant women. (P<0.05) 3. After 24 hours, the mean amount of endothelin-1 stimulated by normal pregnant and severe preeclamptic sera were 37.52+/-18.41 fmol/ml and 97.58+/-53.64 fmol/ml, respectively. The mean amount of endothelin-1 in preeclamptic sera-treated cells was significantly higher than that of normal pregnant sera-treated cells. (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The sera from severe preeclamptic women do not affect cell viability but act selectively on specific activation of their function such as endothelin-1 production. And it is necessary that the identification and isolation of the putative serum factor(s) will be performed to resolve the pathogenesis in future.
