Effects of Labor on Placental Expression of Superoxide Dismutases in Preeclampsia

Placental SOD1 expression from normotensive (NP; □) and preeclamptic (PE; ■) pregnancies in absence (A, C) or presence of labor (B, D). The mRNA level was measured by RT-PCR (A, B). Three housekeeping genes (YWHAZ, SDHA, hTBP) were analyzed by the GeNorm algorithm. Relative gene expression values are expressed as a ratio of SOD1 mRNA/M value (cesareans: n = 9 for NP and n = 14 for PE; vaginal deliveries: n = 14 for NP and n = 11 for PE). SOD1 protein level was obtained by western blot and quantified by densitometry (IODn) (C, D). The loading control was β-actin (n = 8 for NP and PE). Data are means ± SEM. *: p < 0.05 and §: p < 0.1 for the PE group compared to the NP control group.

Placental SOD2 expression from normotensive (NP; □) and preeclamptic (PE; ■) pregnancies in absence (A, C) or presence of labor (B, D). The mRNA level was measured by RT-PCR (A, B). Three housekeeping genes (YWHAZ, SDHA, hTBP) were analyzed by the GeNorm algorithm. Relative gene expression values are expressed as a ratio of SOD2 mRNA/M value (cesareans: n = 9 for NP and n = 14 for PE; vaginal deliveries: n = 14 for NP and n = 11 for PE). SOD1 protein level was obtained by western blot and quantified by densitometry (IODn) (C, D). The loading control was β-actin (n = 8 for NP and PE). Data are means ± SEM. *: p < 0.05 and §: p < 0.1 for the PE group compared to the NP control group.

Placental SOD3 expression from normotensive (NP; □) and preeclamptic (PE; ■) pregnancies in absence (A, C) or presence of labor (B, D). The mRNA level was measured by RT-PCR (A, B). Three housekeeping genes (YWHAZ, SDHA, hTBP) were analyzed by the GeNorm algorithm. Relative gene expression values are expressed as a ratio of SOD3 mRNA/M value (cesareans: n = 9 for NP and n = 14 for PE; vaginal deliveries: n = 14 for NP and n = 11 for PE). SOD3 protein levels was obtained by western blot and quantified by densitometry (IODn) (C, D). The loading control was β-actin (n = 8 for NP and PE). Data are means ± SEM. *: p < 0.05 and §: p < 0.1 for the PE group compared to the NP control group.

Immunolocalization of SOD1, SOD2 and SOD3 in the placenta. Paraffin embedded sections of amnion-chorion, villi, and maternal side layer were stained using polyclonal antibodies specific for SOD1, SOD2 and SOD3. Since no difference in the localization was observed between NP and PE placentas, only the NP placentas are shown. The red color represents the positive result and the counterstain is blue. Corresponding non-specific IgGs were used as negative controls. Panel magnifications are as follow: A and D (5×); G, J, K and L (10×); B, C, E, F, H and I (20×). Amnion (A), chorion (C), blood vessels (BV), syncytiotrophoblast (ST), stromal cells (SC) and decidual cells (DC).