211 Expression of No Synthases and Redox Enzymes in Umbilical Arteries From Newborns Born Small, Appropriate, and Large for Gestational Age

Abstract

Background: Modified expression of NO synthases and prooxidative and antioxidative enzymes accompany endothelial dysfunction, the first stage of atherosclerosis. Humans born small (SGA) and large (LGA) for gestational age are at higher risk to develop atherosclerosis later in life than humans born appropriate (AGA) for gestational age. We hypothesized that indicators of endothelial dysfunction could be detectable already at birth.Aims: To find out whether the expression patterns of NO synthases (eNOS, iNOS, nNOS), of prooxidative enzymes (components of NADPH oxidases, NOX1, NOX2, p22phox, p47phox), and of antioxidative enzymes (superoxide dismutase 1, 2, and 3, catalase, gluthation peroxidase 1) in umbilical arteries differ between SGA, LGA, and AGA newborns.Methods: Protein expression was determined by Western blotting in homogenisated samples of umbilical arteries of healthy term SGA, LGA, and AGA newborns (n = 12 in each group). Optical densities of proteins of interest were normalized in relation to that of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) as a standard.Results: Protein expression of NO synthases, of prooxidative enzymes, and of antioxidative enzymes was similar in the three groups.Conclusions: Protein expression patterns of enzymes involved in endothelial function and redox status did not differ in umbilical arteries of term SGA, LGA, and AGA newborns. Thus, indicators of arterial endothelial dysfunction in terms of aberrant enzyme expression in SGA or LGA newborns vs. AGA newborns were not present at birth.