Placental expression of eNOS, iNOS and the major protein components of caveolae in women with pre-eclampsia

Caveolae regulate many cardiovascular functions and thus could be of interest in relation to pre-eclampsia, a pregnancy specific disorder characterised by hypertension and proteinuria. We examined placental mRNA and protein expression/localisation of the caveolae components Caveolin 1-3, Cavin 1-4 as well as eNOS/iNOS in normotensive control (n = 24) and pre-eclamptic pregnancies (n = 19). Placental mRNA expression of caveolin-1, cavin 1-3, was lower and eNOS expression was increased in pre-eclampsia (P