The Expression of Cyclooxygenase-2 in Human Umbi- lical Vein Endothelial Cell Culture from Preeclampsia

PRAVIT AKARASEREENONT, M.D., Ph.D .* , SIRIKUL CHOTEWUTTAKORN, M.Sc*, KITIRAT TECHATRAISAK, M.D., Ph.D .** , ATHIWAT THAWORN, M.S.T .*

Affiliation : * Department of Pharmacology, ** Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok 10700, Thailand.

AbstractWe have shown that HUVEC from normal pregnancy contained COX-1 protein but not COX-2 protein and released 6-keto-PGF1g 277 ± 5 ng/ml (for 24 h). In contrast, HUVEC from preeclampsia contained both COX-1 and COX-2 protein and released significantly lesser amounts of 6-keto-PGF1a (159 ± 8 ng/ml for 24 h; p < 0.05). Thus, COX-2 is expressed in HUVEC from preeclampsia but not in normal pregnancy and affects the release of prostacyclin suggesting the involvement of COX-2 in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The development of selective inhibitors of COX-2 may have a potential role in prevention and treatment of preeclampsia.

Keywords : Preeclampsia, Cyclooxygenase-2, Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cell Culture

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