Activation of endothelial cells by plasma from women with preeclampsia: Differential effects on four endothelial cell types

OBJECTIVE: To compare the ability of plasma from a population of women with preeclampsia and a population of plasma from women with normal pregnancies to activate four different endothelial cell types. METHODS: The secretion of nitrite and 6-keto prostaglandin F-1 alpha by four endothelial cell types (isolated from the microvasculature of human decidua and skin, as well as a human umbilical vein endothelial cell line and a bovine coronary microvascular cell line) was assessed following a 24-hour incubation with plasma samples from the two groups. RESULTS: Nitrite production (an indicator of nitric oxide release) was detectable in only the decidual endothelial cell and the bovine microvascular endothelial cells (B-88), whereas 6-keto prostaglandin F-1 alpha (stable metabolite of prostacyclin) was detectable in all cells. Only in the B-88 cells was there a greater production of nitrite or 6-keto prostaglandin F-1 alpha in response to incubation with plasma from the preeclamptic patients when compared to plasma from the normotensive controls. CONCLUSION: The different responses of various endothelial cell types to the activating effects of plasma from preeclamptic women indicate that another important caveat to be considered when bioassaying for the circulating factor(s) of preeclampsia is the choice of endothelial cell to be studied. Copyright (C) 1998 by the Society for Gynecologic Investigation.