Heme Oxygenase-1 Attenuates Hypoxia-Induced sFlt-1 and Oxidative Stress in Placental Villi through Its Metabolic Products CO and Bilirubin
Figure 1
Hypoxia decreases HO-1 expression in placental villous explants, which can be restored by CoPP. Placental villous explants were incubated for 48 hours under 6% (normoxic) or 1% (hypoxic) oxygen to simulate the oxygen tension in a health and preeclamptic placenta. As assayed by western blot normalized to β-actin, in response to hypoxia treatment, there was an approximate 30% reduction in the tissue levels of HO-1. Cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), while having no significant effect under hypoxic conditions, fully restored HO-1 expression in the hypoxic villi. Statistical significance at the level is indicated by “*” versus normoxic controls and “#” versus hypoxic controls.
