113 EXPRESSION OF BETA-OXIDATION-RELATED GENES IN PREECLAMPSIA-LIKE MODEL UNDER HYPOXIC CONDITION IN VIVO AND IN VITRO

Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) is a disorder of pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and large amounts of protein in the urine. Preeclampsia is thought in many cases to be caused by a shallowly implanted placenta that becomes hypoxic. The hypoxic condition during the pregnancy can result from a failure at any stage in the delivery of oxygen to the cells. In peripheral tissues, oxygen diffuses down a pressure gradient into cells and moves into their mitochondria, where it is used to produce energy. As an expression of beta-oxidation-related genes, ACADVL was detected by gene-fishing technology using the placenta of human. We conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to confirm preliminary study by inducing hypoxic stress in the BeWo cells and mice placenta. BeWo cells were cultured at 37°C under 1% O₂, 5% CO₂, and balanced with N₂. Pregnant mice were maintained from GD 6.5 to 17.5 under 11% O₂, 5% CO₂, and balanced with N₂. The expression of beta-oxidation related genes (ACADVL, EHHADH, HADH, ACAA1) were observed under hypoxic condition at mRNA and protein levels. The expression of genes known as biomarkers for hypoxia, HIF-1α, was increased in BeWo cells and mouse placenta, which induced PE. The beta-oxidation-related genes ACADVL expression was significantly increased by hypoxic stress both BeWo cells and mouse placenta. The elevated level of HIF-1α indicates that our experimental conditions closely mimicked PE. These results indicate that changes of beta-oxidation-related genes are correlated with PE induced hypoxic condition.