Specific features of redox reactions in the blood of women with physiological or complicated pregnancy

Skripnichenko Yu.P., Pyataeva S.V., Volodina M.A., Tsvirkun D.V., Baranov I.I., Vysokikh M.Yu., Kuzmich I.N.

1Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow 117997, Ac. Oparina str. 4, Russia 2Diagnostic Center Five, Moscow Healthcare Department, Moscow 127572, Abramtsevskaya str. 16, bld. 1, Russia

Much attention is now paid to investigations of of the processes of oxidative stress in pregnant women. An imbalance between the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and the function of the antioxidant system can lead to cell and tissue structural damage, by inducing various pathologic processes. During pregnancy, in both its normal and abnormal course, the total level of oxidative stress increases. In abnormal pregnancy, the formed ROS and RNS, which trigger a cascade of free radical reactions leading to the formation of lipid peroxidation products, such as malondialdehyde (MDA) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and nitrosyl derivatives (NDs), which serve as objective indicators of oxidative damage to proteins.
Objective. To determine the level of the products of ROS, RNS, and antioxidant enzymes in the peripheral blood of pregnant women in different trimesters in the presence of preterm labor (PL), preeclampsia (PE), fetal growth restriction (FGR), and physiological pregnancy (PP).
Subjects and methods. The course of pregnancy and the outcomes of labor were analyzed in 131 women from 4 groups. The level of oxidative stress was estimated from the blood concentrations of lipid peroxidation products, such as MDA and 4-HNE, protein peroxidation products, such as NDs, the content of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, and the activity of catalase.
Results. In physiological pregnancy, the levels of MDA and peroxynitrite adducts significantly increased. The PL group showed no significant differences in MDA levels between the trimesters. In this group, the level of NDs increased during the second trimester. The PE group displayed increased oxidative stress with pregnancy progression. In this group, the level of NDs rose in the second trimester. In the FGR group, the level of MDA increased with pregnancy progression in the presence of lower concentrations of NDs in the second trimester and their elevation in the third trimester. Comparison of the PL and PE groups with the PP group revealed significant increases in NDs and 4-HNE and decreases in glutathione peroxidase in the PL group and catalase activity in the PE activity. On the contrary, the catalase activity was higher in the FGR group than that in the PP group.
Conclusion. The investigations confirmed increased oxidative stress levels during physiological pregnancy. The women with PE and those with PR were observed to have elevated blood levels of oxidative stress products in the presence of attenuation of the antioxidant systems. On the contrary, the women with FGR had enhanced activity of the antioxidant enzyme catalase, with a decline in NDs in the second trimester and its dramatic rise in the third trimester. The findings suggest that it is necessary to continue investigations of oxidative stress and activity of the antioxidant enzymes in both women with physiological pregnancy and those with abnormal pregnancy to create a shared understanding of normal and abnormal reactions.

Keywords

Supplementary Materials

1. Figure 1. Mean level of MDA (A) and PN (B) in blood of patients from four studied groups.
2. Figure 2. Mean level of 4-HNE in blood of patients from four studied groups. * – р<0,05 vs group of PhP
3. Figure 3. Catalase activity in blood of patients from four studied groups. * – р<0,05 vs group of PhP
4. Table. Characteristics of studied groups of women with physiological (PhP) and with complicated pregnancy – preterm delivery (PT), preeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR), obtained data. Data are given as mean±standard deviation

References

About the Authors

Skripnichenko Yuliya Petrovna, Post-graduate student, Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology; obstetrician-gynecologist, Diagnostic Center Five, Moscow Healthcare Department. 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str. 4. Tel.: +74954389492. E-mail: wonder_julia@mail.ru
Pyataeva Sofya Vladimirovna, PhD, Researcher of mitochondrial medicine research group, Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology.
117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str. 4. E-mail: biosonya@gmail.com
Volodina Mariya Alexandrovna, PhD, Researcher of mitochondrial medicine research group, Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology.
117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str. 4. E-mail: m_volodina@oparina4.ru
Tsvirkun Darya Viktorovna, PhD, Researcher of mitochondrial medicine research group, Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology.
117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str. 4. E-mail: darunyat@gmail.com
Baranov Igor Ivanovich, M.D., Ph.D., Professor, the head of organizational and methodical department of the service of the scientific-organizational supply,
Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology. 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str. 4. Tel.: +74954389492. E-mail: i_baranov@oparina4.ru
Vyssokikh Mikhail Yurievich, PhD, Head of mitochondrial medicine research group, Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology.
117997, Russia, Moscow, Ac. Oparin str. 4. Tel.: +74954387633. E-mail: m_vysokikh@oparina4.ru
Kuzmich Irina Nikolaevna, deputy chief physician of Obstetrics and gynecology, Diagnostic Center Five, Moscow Healthcare Department.
127572, Russia, Moscow, Abramtsevskaya str. 16, bld. 1. Tel.: +74954389492

For citations: Skripnichenko Yu.P., Pyataeva S.V., Volodina M.A., Tsvirkun D.V.,
Baranov I.I., Vyssokikh M.Yu., Kuzmich I.N. Specific features of redox reactions in the blood of women with physiological or complicated pregnancy.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2017; (8): 60-6. (in Russian)
http://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2017.8.60-6

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