抄録
Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to elucidate the roles of phospholipase A2 (PLA2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) synthase in pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). Methods: In placentas from normal pregnant women and pregnant women with severe PIH, the enzyme expression of PLA2, COX-2, and PGI2 synthase was measured using real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: The expression of each enzyme was compared between normal (n=12) and PIH (n=12) groups. The expression levels of COX-2 and PGI2 synthase during PIH pregnancy were significantly decreased to about 51% and 68%, respectively, of their values in normal pregnancy. However, the expression of PLA2 was hardly changed by PIH. Conclusions: The decreases in COX-2 and PGI2 synthase expression in severe PIH placentas may be causal factors in the disruption of the PGI2–thromboxane A2 (TXA2) balance in favor of TXA2. The decrease in COX-2 was more marked than that of PGI2 synthase.
