Placental endothelin-converting enzyme-1 is decreased in preeclampsia

• Published in: Pregnancy hypertension 2020-04, Vol.20, p.108-110
• Main Authors: McCormick, Anna, Kristianto, Jasmin, Wang, Xiaohu, McIntosh, Jennifer, Cruz, Meredith, Hibbard, Judith U., Blank, Robert D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biomarkers - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Chorionic Villi - enzymology; Down-Regulation; Endothelial cells; Endothelial Cells - enzymology; Endothelin; Endothelin-converting enzyme 1(ECE-1); Endothelin-Converting Enzymes - analysis; Female; Humans; Placenta; Placenta - enzymology; Pre-Eclampsia - diagnosis; Pre-Eclampsia - enzymology; Preeclampsia; Pregnancy; Stromal Cells - enzymology; Trophoblast
• ISSN: 2210-7789; 2210-7797; 2210-7797
• DOI: 10.1016/j.preghy.2020.04.001

•Placental endothelin converting enzyme-1 expression and role in preeclampsia is poorly defined.•Endothelin converting enzyme-1is expressed in the human placenta.•A decreased amount of immunoreactive ECE-1 is present in preeclamptic compared to normal placentas.•ECE-1 may play an important role in ET-1 regulation in the placenta as well as preeclampsia pathophysiology. Endothelin-converting enzyme-1(ECE-1) is a key regulatory enzyme in the processing of endothelin-1 (ET-1). We quantified and localized ECE-1 in normal and preeclamptic placentas. Normal (n=6) and preeclamptic (n=6) placentas were serially sectioned for immunofluorescence (IF). Cell type specific markers identified endothelial, trophoblast, macrophage, smooth muscle, and fibroblast cells. Quantitative analyses were performed by western blot and ELISA. IF identified ECE-1 expression within the stroma and villous space. Cellular localization of ECE-1 was limited to endothelial membranes. There was significantly less ECE-1 in preeclamptic placentas, suggesting ECE-1 is important for proper regulation of ET-1 within the placenta.