Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in decidua and placenta of preeclamptic pregnancies

doi:10.1016/S0029-7844(99)00433-0

Obstetrics & Gynecology

Volume 94, Issue 6, December 1999, Pages 1033-1038

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0029-7844(99)00433-0 Get rights and content

Abstract

Objective: To investigate a possible involvement of glutathione S-transferases, major detoxificating enzymes, in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.

Methods: Levels of glutathione S-transferase isoforms and enzyme activity were assessed in placental and decidual tissues in 22 preeclamptic and 21 normotensive women. Measured values were analyzed statistically using the Mann-Whitney U test for comparison between groups, and the signed-rank test for comparison within groups.

Results: Glutathione S-transferase pi is the main glutathione S-transferase isoform in normal placental and decidual tissue. Lower median placental and decidual glutathione S-transferase pi levels were found in preeclamptic women compared with controls: 1268 (range: 524–3925) and 2185 (range: 503–6578), P = .05, for placenta; 1543 (range: 681–2967) and 2169 (range: 893–3929), P = .02, for decidua. The total amount of glutathione S-transferases in control and preeclamptic pregnancies was higher in decidua than in placenta.

Conclusion: Reduced levels of glutathione S-transferase class pi in preeclampsia might indicate a decreased capacity of the glutathione/glutathione S-transferase detoxification system. A higher total amount of glutathione S-transferases in decidual tissue might point to a more pronounced protective role of decidua compared with placenta.

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Two groups of women were investigated. A control group of 21 uncomplicated normotensive pregnant women without any obvious medical disorder and 22 preeclamptic patients were studied, nine of whom had hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets (HELLP) syndrome. Sixteen of these preeclamptic patients also contributed to another study concerning glutathione levels in whole blood.14 All preeclamptic and control subjects were selected randomly for study between April 1996 and March 1997. The

Results

Glutathione S-transferase enzyme activities and isoenzyme contents in placental and decidual tissues of both preeclamptic and control pregnancies are shown in Table 2. Placental tissue of controls contained the highest levels of glutathione S-transferase pi. Glutathione S-transferase T2-2 content was approximately 17% of the total amount of placental glutathione S-transferases determined here. The levels of other glutathione S-transferase isoforms were low. The glutathione S-transferase

Discussion

In this study, we compared the main human glutathione S-transferase isoenzyme levels in placental and decidual tissue from controls and preeclamptic patients. We also included nine women in the preeclamptic group who concurrently had HELLP syndrome because this syndrome may be considered a severe variant or complication of preeclampsia.24

An imbalance between lipid peroxides, oxygen free radicals, and other toxins on the one site, and radical scavengers and detoxificating systems on the other,

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^☆: The Dutch ‘Praeventiefonds’ (Grant no. 28-2801) supported this work.

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Original ArticlesGlutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in decidua and placenta of preeclamptic pregnancies☆

Abstract

Section snippets

Materials and methods

Results

Discussion

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Lancet

Adv Clin Chem

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol

Obstet Gynecol

Int J Biochem

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Am J Obstet Gynecol

J Biol Chem

J Biol Chem

Gastroenterology

Am J Obstet Gynecol

Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol

Original Articles
Glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes in decidua and placenta of preeclamptic pregnancies☆