The endocannabinoidome in human placenta: Possible contribution to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Maia, J (Author) Other; Iannotti, FA (Author) Other; Piscitelli, F (Author) Other; Fonseca, BM (Author) Other; Braga, A (Author) Other; Braga, J (Author) Other; Teixeira, N (Author) Other; Di Marzo, V (Author) Other; Georgina Correia da Silva (Author) FFUP

Journal

Title: BioFactors

Vol. 49

Pages: 887-899

ISSN: 0951-6433

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Scopus - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Y-9RN

DOI: 10.1002/biof.1952

Abstract (EN): Preeclampsia (PE) was first reported thousands of years ago, yet there is still a shortage of biomarkers to determine the severity and type of PE. The importance of the expanded endocannabinoid system, or endocannabinoidome (eCBome), has emerged recently in placental physiology and pathology, though the potential alterations of the eCBome in PE have not been fully explored. Analysis by qRT-PCR using placental samples of normotensive and PE women demonstrate for the first time the presence of ABHD4, GDE1, and DAGL beta in both normotensive and PE placental tissues. Interestingly, NAPE-PLD, FAAH-1, DAGLa, MAGL, and ABHD6 mRNA levels were increased in the placental tissues of PE patients. Quantification in plasma and placental tissues showed a decrease for anandamide (AEA), N-oleoylethanolamine (OEA), and N-docosahexaenoylethanolamine (DHEA) in the placenta, accompanied only by a decrease in plasma levels of AEA. In addition, a strong negative correlation was obtained between OEA and the biomarker of PE, soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1. Given the inflammatory nature of PE and the anti-inflammatory role of OEA and DHEA, the decrease in the local levels of these mediators may underlie the inflammatory component of this pathology. Additionally, lower AEA levels in both placenta and plasma may contribute to the atypical alterations of the spiral arteries in PE due to the vasorelaxation effects of AEA. These results add new information to the role of the eCBome members in placental development, while also pointing to a potential role as biomarkers of PE.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 13