Hypoxia limits differentiation and up-regulates expression and activity of prostaglandin H synthase 2 in cultured trophoblast from term human placenta

Hypoxia attenuates PGE(2)but increases prostacyclin and thromboxane production in human term villous trophoblast

Prostanoids have been proposed to play a major role in the regulation of uteroplacental blood flow. We examined the effect of hypoxia on the production of prostaglandin E(2)(PGE(2)) thromboxane B(2)(TXB(2)), and prostacyclin (measured as 6-keto-PGF(1alpha)) by human term trophoblast cells and villous placental explants. Explants (n=8) and purified trophoblast cells (n=5) were incubated for 24-72 h under either normoxic (21 per cent O(2)) or hypoxic (2 per cent O(2)) conditions. In trophoblast monolayer cultures, hypoxia attentuated PGE(2)production rates to 52+/-9.4 per cent (mean+/-sem, P< 0.05) but recovered to control rates within 48 h. In villous explants, PGE(2)production was significantly decreased after 48 and 72 h of hypoxia versus the normoxic control, accompanied by increased production of 6-keto-PGF(1alpha)to 173.9+/-26.7 per cent after 48 h. TXB(2)production was increased to 172.3+/-25.9 per cent and 653.2+/-135.7 per cent (P< 0.05) control after 48 and 72 h of hypoxia, respectively. These results were confirmed in villous explants (n=3) cultured in the presence of exogenous 10 microm arachidonic acid. Hypoxia had no significant effect on TXB(2)and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha)in trophoblast cells. In summary, our findings suggest that hypoxia could be responsible for abnormal profiles of prostanoid production commonly observed in women with pre-eclampsia. These results indicate a putative link between hypoxia and compromised placental perfusion.

Effect of hypoxia, oxidative stress and lipopolysaccharides on the release of prostaglandins and cytokines from human term placental explants

Placental hypoxia, ischaemia, reperfusion and resultant oxidative stress, with the release of various factors into the maternal vasculature acting as mediators of endothelial cell dysfunction, play an important role in the development of pre-eclampsia. Human term placental tissue explants were exposed to different stressors, e.g. hypoxia, oxidative stress and lipopolysaccarides, and the effect on the release of prostanoids and cytokines was determined. The hypoxic environment consisted of 2 per cent O2, 5 per cent CO2and 93 per cent N2. Oxidative stress was induced by addition of xanthine together with xanthine oxidase to the incubation medium. As a third experimental variable, lipopolysaccharide was added to the medium. Prostaglandins (8-iso-PGF(2alpha), or 6-keto-PGF(1alpha)and TXB(2)as stable metabolites of prostacyclin and thromboxane, respectively) and cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6) were measured using commercial ELISA assays. Under control conditions, the production of prostaglandins in ng/24 h (mean +/- s.d.) was 6 +/- 3 for 8-iso-PGF(2alpha), 19 +/- 9 for 6-keto-PGF(1alpha)and 5 +/- 2 for TXB2. The production of cytokines was 13 +/- 6 pg for TNF-alpha, 7 +/- 2 pg for IL-1alpha, 5 +/- 3 pg for IL-1beta and 18 +/- 9 ng for IL-6. Under hypoxia the production of prostaglandins remained unchanged and of the cytokines only IL-1beta showed a 15-fold increase. Oxidative stress resulted in an increase in the release of prostaglandins and of cytokines of 4- to 15- and 3- to 130-fold, respectively. Lipopolysaccharides and oxidative stress had a similar effect on the production of prostaglandins, whereas the stimulatory effect of lipopolysaccharides on cytokines was significantly higher than that of oxidative stress.

Effects of indomethacin, NS-398 (a selective prostaglandin H synthase-2 inhibitor) and protein synthesis inhibitors on prostaglandin production by the guinea-pig placenta

The outputs of PGF(2 alpha), PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)were similar from the day 22 guinea-pig placenta and sub-placenta in culture, except for PGE2 output from the sub-placenta which was lower. Between days 22 and 29 of pregnancy, the outputs of PGF(2 alpha), PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)during the initial 2 h culture period increased 6.9-, 1.1- and 3.2-fold, respectively, from the placenta, and 2.1-, 1.4- and 2.2-fold, respectively, from the sub-placenta. Therefore, there was a relatively specific increase in PGF(2 alpha)production by the guinea-pig placenta between days 22 and 29 of pregnancy. The output of PGFM from the cultured placenta also increased between days 22 and 29, indicating that the increase in PGF(2 alpha)output was due to increased synthesis rather than to decreased metabolism. By comparing the amounts of prostaglandins produced by tissue homogenates during a 1 h incubation period, it appears that there is approximately a 2-fold increase in the amount of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) present in the guinea-pig placenta between days 22 and 29. NS-398 (a specific inhibitor of PGHS-2) and indomethacin (an inhibitor of both PGHS-1 and PGHS-2) both inhibited prostaglandin production by homogenates of day 22 and day 29 placenta. Indomethacin was more effective than NS-398, except for their actions on PGF(2 alpha)production by the day 29 placenta where indomethacin and NS-398 were equiactive. Indomethacin and NS-398 were both very effective at inhibiting the outputs of PGF(2 alpha), PGE2 and 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha)from the day 22 and day 29 placenta and sub-placenta in culture, indicating that prostaglandin production by the guinea-pig placenta and sub-placenta in culture is largely dependent upon the activity of PGHS-2. The high production of PGF(2 alpha)by the day 29 placenta is not dependent on the continual synthesis of fresh protein(s), as inhibitors of protein synthesis did not reduce PGF(2 alpha)output from the day 29 guinea-pig placenta in culture.

Modulation of copper/zinc superoxide dismutase expression and activity with in vitro differentiation of human villous cytotrophoblasts

Due to the role of oxygen free radicals in trophoblast cell differentiation, we used the in vitro model of villous cytotrophoblast differentiation into the syncytiotrophoblast to investigate the modulation of the key antioxidant enzyme copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD-1) in the human trophoblast during pregnancy. Cytotrophoblast cells were isolated from first-trimester and term placentae. SOD-1 mRNA levels were determined using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, protein levels were determined by immunoblotting with a specific monoclonal antibody, and oxidoreductase activity was measured during syncytiotrophoblast formation in vitro. Interestingly, SOD-1 protein levels fell significantly (P< 0.001) during syncytiotrophoblast formation but no corresponding change in enzyme activity was observed. This apparent discrepancy may be related to different amounts of SOD-1 co-factor in the two cell types. Indeed the level of copper was significantly higher (P< 0.05) in syncytiotrophoblast as compared with cytotrophoblast. SOD-1 mRNA levels remained stable during cytotrophoblast differentiation. SOD-1 expression and activity were similar in cytotrophoblast cells isolated from first-trimester and term placentae, and in the differentiated syncytiotrophoblast in vitro. These results underline the need to determine SOD-1 protein expression and activity simultaneously in order to gain a better knowledge of its role in human trophoblast cell differentiation.

Apoptosis in human cultured trophoblasts is enhanced by hypoxia and diminished by epidermal growth factor

Preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction are associated with placental hypoperfusion and villous hypoxia. The villous response to this environment includes diminished trophoblast differentiation and enhanced apoptosis. We tested the hypothesis that hypoxia induces apoptosis in cultured trophoblasts, and that epidermal growth factor (EGF), an enhancer of trophoblast differentiation, diminishes hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Trophoblasts isolated from placentas of term-uncomplicated human pregnancies were cultured up to 72 h in standard (PO(2) = 120 mm Hg) or hypoxic (PO(2) <15 mm Hg) conditions. Exposure to hypoxia for 24 h markedly enhanced trophoblast apoptosis as determined by DNA laddering, internucleosomal in situ DNA fragmentation, and histomorphology, as well as by the reversibility of the apoptotic process with a caspase inhibitor. Apoptosis was accompanied by increased expression of p53 and Bax and decreased expression of Bcl-2. Addition of EGF to cultured trophoblasts or exposure of more differentiated trophoblasts to hypoxia significantly lowered the level of apoptosis. We conclude that hypoxia enhances apoptosis in cultured trophoblasts by a mechanism that involves an increase in p53 and Bax expression. EGF and enhancement of cell differentiation protect against hypoxic-induced apoptosis.