Nrf2 inactivation enhances placental angiogenesis in a preeclampsia mouse model and improves maternal and fetal outcomes.

Abstract

Placental activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are thought to affect placental angiogenesis, which is critical for preventing preeclampsia pathology. We examined the role of ROS in preeclampsia by genetically modifying the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway, a cellular antioxidant defense system, in a mouse model of RAS-induced preeclampsia. Nrf2 deficiency would be expected to impair cellular antioxidant responses; however, Nrf2 deficiency in preeclamptic mice improved maternal and fetal survival, ameliorated intra-uterine growth retardation, and augmented oxidative DNA damage. Furthermore, the placentas of Nrf2-deficient mice had increased endothelial cell proliferation with dense vascular networks. In contrast, the placentas of preeclamptic mice with overactive Nrf2 showed repressed angiogenesis, which was associated with decreased expression of genes encoding angiogenic chemokines and cytokines. Our findings support the notion that ROS-mediated signaling is essential for maintaining placental angiogenesis in preeclampsia and may provide mechanistic insight into the negative results of clinical trials for antioxidants in preeclampsia.

• Authors: Masahiro Nezu, Tomokazu Souma, Lei Yu, Hiroki Sekine, Nobuyuki Takahashi, Andrew Zu-Sern Wei, Sadayoshi Ito, Akiyoshi Fukamizu, Zsuzsanna K Zsengeller, Tomohiro Nakamura, Atsushi Hozawa, S Ananth Karumanchi, Norio Suzuki, Masayuki Yamamoto
• Journal: Science signaling (Sci Signal) Vol. 10 Issue 479 (May 16 2017) ISSN: 1937-9145 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 28512147 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017, American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Chemical References

• Antioxidants
• Cytokines
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2
• Nfe2l2 protein, mouse
• Reactive Oxygen Species

Topics

• Animals
• Antioxidants (pharmacology)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• DNA Damage
• Disease Models, Animal
• Female
• Fetal Development
• Fetal Growth Retardation (physiopathology)
• Gene Expression (drug effects)
• Humans
• Mice
• Mice, Transgenic
• NF-E2-Related Factor 2 (deficiency, genetics)
• Neovascularization, Physiologic (genetics)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Placenta (blood supply, metabolism)
• Pre-Eclampsia (metabolism, physiopathology)
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Outcome
• Reactive Oxygen Species (metabolism)