DOI
https://doi.org/10.25772/WNAZ-CA44
Defense Date
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Physiology and Biophysics
First Advisor
Scott Walsh
Second Advisor
Robert Diegelmann
Third Advisor
Roland Pittman
Abstract
Placental dysfunction is implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Chemical signals between the placenta and maternal circulation are a suspect cause of endothelial dysfunction and maternal hypertension. This study examined select lipid mediators of inflammation produced by the placenta. Patients were recruited from Virginia Commonwealth University’s pregnancy clinics and placentas were collected at delivery. Forty-eight-hour explant cultures of villous placental tissue were used to model lipid production. Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was used to quantify concentrations of free lipids in the culture media. Bicinchoninic acid assays were performed to quantify protein in each culture for normalization of lipid data. After analysis, it was found that severity of preeclampsia was correlated with a unique lipid profile. Pro-inflammatory hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids and sphingolipids were elevated. Aspirin usage in patients who developed preeclampsia was found to attenuate accumulation of isoprostane oxidative stress markers and thromboxane production while preserving omega-3-fatty acid and increasing prostacyclin levels.
Rights
© The Author
Is Part Of
VCU University Archives
Is Part Of
VCU Theses and Dissertations
Date of Submission
7-27-2018