Prematurity is related to high placental cortisol in preeclampsia.

Abstract

Fetal growth is compromised in animal models with high cortisol availability. In healthy pregnancies, the fetus is protected from high circulating cortisol levels by the placental 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11beta-HSD2), which is reduced in preeclampsia. We hypothesized increased placental cortisol availability in preeclampsia as missing link to fetal growth restriction and prematurity. Placental tissue was obtained from 39 pregnant women dichotomized normotensive (n = 16) or preeclamptic (n = 23). Placental steroid hormone metabolites were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Apparent 11beta-HSD2 enzyme activity was calculated as substrate to product ratio. Estradiol and pregnandiol positively correlated with gestational age. Cortisol was virtually absent in 93.8% of controls, yet detectable in 79.3% of preeclamptic samples resulting in an odds ratio (OR) of 0.019 (95% CI 0.002-0.185) for the presence of placental cortisol. Apparent 11beta-HSD2 activity directly correlated with birth weight (R2 = 0.16; p < 0.02) and gestational age (R2 = 0.11; p < 0.04) ensuing a reduced risk of premature delivery (OR 0.12; 95% CI 0.02-0.58). We conclude that normotensive pregnancies are characterized by an almost completely inactivated placental cortisol. In line with our hypothesis, reduced 11beta-HSD2 activity in preeclampsia is unable to abolish placental cortisol, a finding clearly associated with prematurity and low birth weight.

• Authors: Myriam Aufdenblatten, Marc Baumann, Luigi Raio, Bernhard Dick, Brigitte M Frey, Henning Schneider, Daniel Surbek, Berthold Hocher, Markus G Mohaupt
• Journal: Pediatric research (Pediatr Res) Vol. 65 Issue 2 Pg. 198-202 (Feb 2009) ISSN: 1530-0447 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 19047954 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Progesterone
• Estradiol
• 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2
• HSD11B2 protein, human
• Hydrocortisone

Topics

• 11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase Type 2 (metabolism)
• Adult
• Birth Weight
• Case-Control Studies
• Estradiol (metabolism)
• Female
• Gestational Age
• Humans
• Hydrocortisone (metabolism)
• Infant, Low Birth Weight
• Infant, Newborn
• Infant, Premature
• Odds Ratio
• Placenta (enzymology, metabolism)
• Pre-Eclampsia (enzymology, metabolism)
• Pregnancy
• Premature Birth (etiology, metabolism)
• Progesterone (metabolism)
• Risk Assessment
• Risk Factors
• Up-Regulation