Expression of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Traffic Inducer in the Placenta of Pregnancy Induced Hypertension

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase traffic induc-er(NOSTRIN),a58kD(1kD=0.9921ku)pro-tein with complete unknown function that was i-dentified using the yeast two-hybrid system byZi mmermannet al1],and Zi mmermann demon-strated that NOSTRIN over-expression induced aprofound redistribution of eNOS fromthe plasmamembrane to vesicle-like structures matching theNOSTRIN pattern and at the same ti me led to asignificant inhibition of NO release1].WhetherNOSTRIN do involve in the mechani…

Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase traffic inducer in the pladenta of pregnancy induced hypertension

Summary The expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase traffic inducer (NOSTRIN) in the placenta of the patients with pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) was detected and its role in the pathogenesis of PIH was studied. The pathological changes in placental vessels were observed by HE staining, NO₂₋/NO₃₋, the stable metabolic end products of NO, was measured with nitrate reductase. The eNOS activity in placental tissues was assayed by spectrophotometry. Western blot analysis was applied to detect NOSTRIN expression. The incidence of thickening and fibronoid necrosis of placental vessels was significantly higher in women with PIH than in the normal group (P<0.01). The levels of placental NO₂₋/NO₃₋ in PIH patients (27.53±7.48 μmol/mg) were significantly lower than in normal group (54.27±9.53 μmol/mg,P<0.01). The activity of eNOS was significantly decreased in PIH group (12.826±3.61 U/mg) as compared with that in normal group (21.72±3.83 U/mg,P<0.01). Western blot analysis revealed that both groups expressed 58 kD NOSTRIN, but the protein level was significantly higher in women with PIH than in the normal group (P<0.01). A significant negative correlation existed between the expression of NOSTRIN protein and the activity of eNOS in placental tissue of women with PIH (r=−0.57,P<0.01). It was concluded that the level of NOSTRIN expression in placenta of women with PIH was increased, which may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PIH. XIANG Wenpei, female, born in 1974, M. D., Ph. D.