The role of the endogenous anti-inflammatory compound gravidin in pre-eclampsia.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

The study's aims were to investigate the levels of gravidin, an endogenous phospholipase A2 inhibitor, in pregnancy and pre-eclampsia and to establish its effects on neutrophil function.

STUDY DESIGN:

Serum samples were collected from 9 nonpregnant, 15 preeclamptic, and 10 healthy pregnant women and assayed for free gravidin by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neutrophil phospholipase A2 and respiratory burst activities were determined in the presence of isolated free gravidin by cellular arachidonic acid release and superoxide anion production.

RESULTS:

Levels of free gravidin were higher in the healthy pregnant (36.1 +/- 5.5 ng/mL) and preeclamptic (17.8 +/- 2.8 ng/mL) groups than in the nonpregnant control group (3.9 +/- 0.5 ng/mL) and were significantly different between pregnancy groups (P <.01, Mann-Whitney U test). Free gravidin caused a concentration dependent decrease in N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-stimulated neutrophil arachidonic acid release (inhibitory concentration of 50% 25 nmol/L) and superoxide anion generation (inhibitory concentration of 50% 32 nmol/L).

CONCLUSIONS:

Circulating levels of free gravidin are reduced in pre-eclampsia compared with normal pregnancy. This may encourage an increase in the respiratory burst of neutrophils in pre-eclampsia and could contribute to the oxidative stress and vascular damage that characterize this disease.

• Authors: I P Crocker, R P Wellings, R G Hayman, J Fletcher, P N Baker
• Journal: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology (Am J Obstet Gynecol) Vol. 179 Issue 5 Pg. 1305-11 (Nov 1998) ISSN: 0002-9378 [Print] United States
• PMID: 9822521 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Enzyme Inhibitors
• Pregnancy Proteins
• gravidin
• Phospholipases A
• Phospholipases A2

Topics

• Adult
• Enzyme Inhibitors (blood, pharmacology)
• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Female
• Humans
• Neutrophils (drug effects, enzymology, physiology)
• Phospholipases A (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Phospholipases A2
• Pre-Eclampsia (blood, physiopathology)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Proteins (blood, pharmacology, physiology)
• Respiratory Burst (drug effects)