Production of vasoactive substances by human umbilical vein endothelial cells after incubation with serum from preeclamptic patients

Abstract

Objective: To determine the in vitro effect of serum from preeclamptic patients on the proliferation, viability and secretion of vasoactive substances by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Study design: HUVEC were incubated for 24 h with sera from 16 preeclamptic, 19 healthy pregnant and 8 healthy nonpregnant women. Proliferation rates were determined by cell counting and vitality by trypan blue staining. The vasoactive substances, 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α, nitrite and nitrate, and endothelin-1 (ET-1) were measured in endothelial cell supernatants. Results: The preeclamptic serum had no effect on cell proliferation or vitality compared with control sera. It induced more HUVEC production of ET-1, but not of prostacyclin (PGI 2) or nitric oxide compared with control serum. Conclusion: Preeclamptic serum appears to contain a factor(s) that specifically stimulates ET-1 secretion from HUVEC without altering cell growth or vitality.