Oxidative damage, inflammation, and Toll-like receptor 4 pathway are increased in preeclamptic patients: a case-control study

Abstract

Problem: There was no direct correlation between plasma and placental oxidative damage parameters and inflammation and evidence of TLR4 pathway activation in the placenta in preeclamptic (PE) patients.

Method of study: 33 PE patients and 33 normotensive pregnant women were included. The maternal section of the placenta and blood were collected to the determination of oxidative damage markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive species and protein carbonyls), inflammatory response (interleukin-6 and myeloperoxidase activity), and activation of the TLR-4-NF-kB pathway.

Results: An increase of IL-6 levels in both plasma and placenta was observed, but myeloperoxidase activity was not significantly different comparing the groups. Oxidative damage parameters were increased in plasma and placenta in PE patients. A significant increase of the protein levels of TLR-4 and NF-kB was observed in the placenta.

Conclusion: The TLR4-NF-kB pathway is upregulated in PE, probably generating local and systemic inflammatory response that is followed by local and systemic oxidative damage.

Figure 1

Plasma and placenta levels of interleukin-6 in normal gestation and preeclamptic patients. 33 preeclamptic patients and 33 matched normotensive pregnant women were included and their placenta and peripheral venous blood samples were collected to the determination of interleukin-6 levels using ELISA. *Different from their respective control, P < 0.05. PE = pre-eclampsia.

Figure 2

Placenta activity of myeloperoxidase in normal gestation and preeclamptic patients.33 preeclamptic patients and 33 matched normotensive pregnant women were included and their placenta was collected to the determination of myeloperoxidase activity using colorimetric assay. PE: pre-eclampsia.

Figure 3

Plasma and placenta levels of thiobarbituric reactive acid species in normal gestation and preeclamptic patients. 33 preeclamptic patients and 33 matched normotensive pregnant women were included and their placenta and peripheral venous blood samples were collected to the determination of thiobarbituric reactive acid species using colorimetric assay. *Different from their respective control,  P < 0.05. PE: pre-eclampsia.

Figure 4

Plasma and placenta levels of protein carbonyls in normal gestation and preeclamptic patients. 33 preeclamptic patients and 33 matched normotensive pregnant women were included and their placenta and peripheral venous blood samples were collected to the determination of protein carbonyls using colorimetric assay. *Different from their respective control,  P < 0.05. PE = pre-eclampsia.

Figure 5

Placenta protein levels of Toll-like receptor 4, MyD-88 and Nuclear Factor-kB in normal gestation and preeclamptic patients. 33 preeclamptic patients and 33 matched normotensive pregnant women were included and their placenta was collected to the determination of protein levels of Toll-like receptor 4, MyD-88 and nuclear factor-kB using immunoblotting. *Different from their respective control,  P < 0.05. PE: pre-eclampsia.