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Placental CoQ 10 levels in HELLP syndrome
Author(s) -
Giannubilo Stefano R.,
Tranquilli Andrea L.,
Santolini Cristina,
Prinicipi Federica,
Mancinelli Romina,
Littarru Gian Paolo
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
biofactors
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.204
H-Index - 94
eISSN - 1872-8081
pISSN - 0951-6433
DOI - 10.1002/biof.5520250118
Subject(s) - hellp syndrome , preeclampsia , medicine , coenzyme q – cytochrome c reductase , oxidative stress , endocrinology , pregnancy , chemistry , biology , mitochondrion , biochemistry , genetics , cytochrome c
Oxidative stress is considered a key factor in HELLP syndrome, a severe complication of preeclampsia in pregnancy. In the present study we analysed the content of Coenzyme Q 10 (CoQ 10 ), a fundamental component of the mitochondrial respiratory chain and recognized lipophilic antioxidant, in placentas from women affected by HELLP syndrome and compared them with the relative controls. Twenty‐eight patients with HELLP syndrome and twenty‐eight age‐matched healthy pregnant controls were enrolled. Two aliquots of placental tissue were taken immediately after delivery and placed into liquid nitrogen. Thawed samples were homogenised by Ultra‐Turrax; total protein and CoQ 10 concentration were thereafter analysed. CoQ 10 concentration was 0.162 ± 0.07μg/mg protein in HELLP syndrome versus 0.87 ± 0.003μg/mg protein in controls, the difference being highly significant. A positive correlation, within the placentas from HELLP, was found between the weight of the new‐born and CoQ 10 /protein ratio. A significant positive correlation was also present between CoQ 10 /protein ratio and Apgar at 1st and 5th minute as well as between CoQ 10 /protein ratio and the median cerebral artery pulsatility index. The increase in placental CoQ 10 in this syndrome might derive from a compensatory mechanism in a situation of increased oxidative stress.