An Examination of the Effect of Aspirin and Salicylic Acid on Soluble Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase-1 Release from Human Placental Trophoblasts

Abstract

Low-dose aspirin (LDA) is efficacious in preventing preeclampsia, but its mechanism of action is unclear. Conflicting evidence suggests that it may inhibit placental trophoblast release of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt1), a key mediator of preeclampsia. We examined whether, and at what concentrations, aspirin and its principal metabolite, salicylic acid, modulate sFlt1 release and/or expression in trophoblasts. Human trophoblast lines BeWo and HTR-8/SVneo were cultured; BeWo cells were also treated with 1% oxygen vs. normoxia to mimic hypoxia in preeclamptic placentas. Cells were treated with aspirin or salicylic acid vs. vehicle for 24 h at concentrations relevant to LDA and at higher concentrations. Protein concentrations (ELISA) and mRNA expression (RT-PCR) of sFlt1 were determined. Under normoxia, LDA-relevant concentrations of aspirin (10–50 µmol/L) or salicylic acid (20–100 µmol/L) had no significant effect on sFlt1 protein release or mRNA expression in BeWo cells. However, inhibition was observed at higher concentrations (1 mmol/L for aspirin and ≥200 μmol/L for salicylic acid). Hypoxia enhanced sFlt1 protein release and mRNA expression in BeWo cells, but these responses were not significantly affected by either aspirin or salicylic acid at LDA concentrations. Similarly, neither drug altered sFlt1 protein secretion or mRNA expression in normoxic HTR-8/SVneo cells at LDA concentrations. We suggest that direct modulation of trophoblast release or expression of sFlt1 is unlikely to be a mechanism underlying the clinical efficacy of LDA in preeclampsia.

Low dose aspirin prevents endothelial dysfunction in the aorta and foetal loss in pregnant mice infected with influenza A virus

“…Furthermore, ASA has been shown to cross the placental barrier ( 36 ) and so it is feasible that it may have had an effect on placental angiogenesis, particularly with the observed reversal of intrauterine growth restriction. We examined serum sFlt-1 in our model and observed significant reductions in sFlt-1 with drug treatment ( Supplementary Figure 2 ), which may be a surrogate marker for promoting angiogenesis ( 37 ). Future studies should examine whether gestational influenza and aspirin and NCX4016 influence neo-angiogenesis during pregnancy.…”