Objective: Abnormal spiral artery remodeling during early pregnancy leads to preeclampsia. The proliferation and invasion of trophoblasts in pregnancy are important for spiral artery remodeling. This study examined whether heme oxygenase (HO) by-products (carbon monoxide biliverdin, and iron) play roles in regulating the restoration of proliferation and invasion of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), HTR-8/SV-neo cells originating from first-trimester trophoblasts, 3A(tPA 30-1) obtained from term trophoblasts, and human endometrial stromal cells (HESCs) inhibited by zinc protoporphyrin IX (Znpp-9).
Study design: We explored whether HO by-products restored the proliferation and invasion of HUVECs, HTR-8/SVneo cells, 3A(tPA 30-1) cells, and HESCs inhibited by Znpp-9 depending on the oxygen concentration.
Results: Bilirubin promoted proliferation of HUVECs, HTR-8/SVneo cells, 3A(tPA-30-1) cells, and HESCs under both hypoxic and normoxic conditions. Biliverdin also promoted invasion of HUVECs, HTR-8/SVneo cells, 3A(tPA30-1) cells, and HESCs under both hypoxic and normoxic conditions. Carbon monoxide-releasing molecule 2 promoted the proliferation and invasion of specific cell types depending on the oxygen concentration.
Conclusion: Our data suggest that HO by-products differentially stimulate the proliferation and invasion of cells involved in pregnancy maintenance. When HO by-products are considered to be stimulants during the invasion and proliferation of such cells, both target cells and the gestational period should be considered.
Keywords: biliverdin; carbon monoxide; heme oxygenase; heme oxygenase by-products; trophoblast.
© The Author(s) 2015.