Determination of RhoA GTPase effector proteins in preeclamptic placentas

Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy‐specific multifactorial disorder, characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after the 20th week of gestation. The placenta plays an important role during PE development. It has been shown that the RhoA GTPase is involved in the development of hypertension and vasoconstriction due to may contribute to the etiology of this disorder. These GTPases act as molecular switches interacting with effector proteins to generate cellular responses. Because of their importance and little background presence of RhoA protein in placentas with PE, the main aim of this work is to determinate the localization of RhoA protein and the identification of effectors proteins in cotyledon, vein and artery from umbilical cord. Our results revealed that RhoA is localized mainly in smooth muscle cells of vein and artery, and blood vessels from cotyledon. The expression level was decreased in preeclamptic placenta. This data suggests a possible role of RhoA protein in blood vessels during the hypertension related with PE.