Maternal Smoking and Placental Expression of a Panel of Genes Related to Angiogenesis and Oxidative Stress in Early Pregnancy

Objective: Maternal cigarette smoking is paradoxically associated with a decreased risk of developing preeclampsia. Since preeclampsia is thought to be associated with altered mechanisms of angiogenesis and oxidative stress, we aim to investigate the influence of maternal smoking on the early placental expression of a panel of genes related to angiogenesis and oxidative stress. Material and Methods: We collected villous tissue samples at 6-7 and 10-11 weeks of gestation from 31 women requesting surgical termination. Placental expression of the following genes were quantified by real-time PCR: vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1), soluble endoglin (sEng), placental growth factor (PIGF), heme oxygenase-1 (HMOX-1) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Maternal smoking status was assessed by levels of serum cotinine. Results: Placental expression of VEGFA was significantly higher in smoking women at 10-11 weeks of gestation compared with nonsmoking women at the same gestational age. There was no significant difference at 6-7 weeks of gestation. There was no variation in the expression of the other genes explored related to smoking status. Conclusions: Here we report that VEGFA placental expression was higher in smoking women at 10-11 weeks of gestation. Increased VEGFA expression in the early stages of pregnancy in smoking women might contribute to the decreased risk of developing preeclampsia. (C) 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel