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CC BY 4.0 · Rev Bras Ginecol Obstet 2022; 44(03): 214-219
DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1742313
Original Article
High Risk Pregnancy

Interplay of Oxidative Stress and Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Expression on Cardiovascular Responses in Preeclampsia

Interação do estresse oxidativo e da expressão dos genes das óxido nítrico sintases nas respostas cardiovasculares na pré-eclâmpsia
Anita Herur 
1   Department of Physiology, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapur-586103, Karnataka, India
2   Department of Physiology and OBG, S. Nijalingappa Medical college, Bagalkot-587103, Karnataka, India
,
Manjunatha Aithala 
1   Department of Physiology, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapur-586103, Karnataka, India
,
Kusal K. Das 
1   Department of Physiology, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapur-586103, Karnataka, India
,
Ashalata Mallapur 
2   Department of Physiology and OBG, S. Nijalingappa Medical college, Bagalkot-587103, Karnataka, India
,
Rajat Hegde 
3   Karnataka Institute for DNA Research (KIDNAR), Dharwad-580003, Karnataka, India
,
Suyamindra Kulkarni 
1   Department of Physiology, Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre, BLDE (Deemed to be University), Vijayapur-586103, Karnataka, India
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Abstract

Objective To assess the influence of oxidative stress on the gene expression of nitric oxide synthases (NOS 3 and NOS 2) and, hence, the cardiovascular responses in preeclampsia.

Methods This was a case control study in which patients with preeclampsia (PE group) and normal pregnancy controls (NP group) were included according to the guidelines of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). The serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity, and nitric oxide (NO) were estimated, and the heart rate and mean arterial pressure were recorded. The gene profiling of NOS3 and NOS2 was performed through real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The statistical analysis was performed using the Student t-test, and values of p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results The serum levels of malondialdehyde were increased (p < 0.0001), and the total antioxidant capacity was reduced in the PE group (p = 0.034), indicating oxidative stress. In the PE group, the mean arterial pressure was significantly higher (p < 0.0001), but the serum levels of NO did not show a statistically significant reduction (p = 0.20). The gene expression profiling of NOS3 and NOS2 revealed a down regulation in the PE group by 8.49 and 51.05 times respectively.

Conclusion Oxidative stress may lead to endothelial dysfunction, which could result in increased mean arterial pressure. Nitric oxide may play a role in this mechanism, but interactions with other vasoactive /biological substances cannot be overlooked, as the gene expression of NOS3 and NOS2 has been reduced.

Resumo

Objetivo Avaliar a influência do estresse oxidativo na expressão genética das óxido nítrico sintases (nitric oxide synthases, NOS, em inglês; NOS 3 e NOS 2) e, consequentemente, nas respostas cardiovasculares na pré-eclâmpsia.

Métodos Este foi um estudo caso-controle no qual pacientes com pré-eclâmpsia (grupo PE) e controles com gravidez normal (grupo GN) foram incluídos de acordo com as diretrizes do American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Foram estimados os níveis séricos de malondialdeído (MDA) da capacidade antioxidante total, e de óxido nítrico (nitric oxide, NO, em inglês). A frequência cardíaca e a pressão arterial média foram registradas. O perfil genético da NOS3 e da NOS2 foi feito por reação em cadeia de polimerase em tempo real (real-time polymerase chain reaction, RT-PCR, em inglês). A análise estatística foi feita utilizando-se o teste t de Student, e valores de p < 0,05 foram considerados estatisticamente significativos.

Resultados Os níveis séricos de malondialdeído sérico estavam aumentados (p < 0,0001), e a capacidade antioxidante total, reduzida no grupo PE (p = 0,034), o que indicava estresse oxidativo. No grupo PE, a pressão arterial média era significativamente maior (p < 0,0001), mas os níveis séricos de NO não demostraram redução estatisticamente significativa (p = 0,20). O perfil de expressão genética da NOS3 e da NOS2 revelou uma regulação negativa no grupo PE de 8,49 e 51,05 vezes, respectivamente.

Conclusão O estresse oxidativo pode levar à disfunção endotelial, o que pode resultar em aumento da pressão arterial média. O NO pode desempenhar um papel neste mecanismo, mas as interações com outras substâncias vasoativas/biológicas não podem ser negligenciadas, uma vez que a expressão genética da NOS3 e da NOS2 foi reduzida.

Keywords

molecular genetics - preeclampsia/eclampsia - vascular biology

Palavras-chave

genética molecular - pré-eclâmpsia/eclâmpsia - biologia vascular

Contributions

All the authors have contributed equally to this paper, namely to the conception and design, data collection or analysis, and interpretation of data, writing of the article, and review of the intellectual content. Therefore, all authors approved the final version to be published.




Publication History

Received: 21 June 2020

Accepted: 03 November 2021

Article published online:
31 January 2022

© 2022. Federação Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, permitting unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction so long as the original work is properly cited. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

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