Hydrogen sulfide producing enzymes in pregnancy and preeclampsia

K. M. Holwerda*, E. M. Bos, A. Rajakumar, C. Ris-Stalpers, M. G. Van Pampus, A. Timmer, J. J.H.M. Erwich, M. M. Faas, H. Van Goor, A. T. Lely

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

57 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Preeclampsia, a human pregnancy specific disorder is characterized by an anti-angiogenic state. As hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) has pro-angiogenic and anti-oxidative characteristics, we hypothesized that H 2S levels could play a role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia and studied the placental expression of the H 2S-producing enzymes cystathionine-γ-lyase (CSE) and cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS). CBS and CSE protein are expressed in the fetal-placental endothelium and CBS only in Hofbauer cells. CBS mRNA expression is decreased (p = 0.002) in early-onset preeclampsia, while CSE mRNA is unchanged. Thus, down regulation of CBS during early-onset preeclampsia may result in less H 2S-production and may aid in the anti-angiogenic state.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)518-521
Number of pages4
JournalPlacenta
Volume33
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jun 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cysthationine-beta-synthase
  • Cysthationine-gamma-lyase
  • Endothelial dysfunction
  • Hydrogen sulfide
  • Preeclampsia

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