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

•First report of all components of caveolae expression in human placentae tissue.•Caveolin-1, cavin-1, -2 & 3 mRNA expression was lower in pre-eclamptic placentae.•eNOS mRNA expression was increased in pre-eclamptic placentae.•Caveolin-1 protein expression was also reduced in pre-eclampsia.•Could be an adaptive response to attenuate the oxidative stress and inflammation.

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 < 0.05 for all). Additionally Caveolin-1 protein expression was also reduced in pre-eclampsia (P = 0.007); this could be an adaptive response in pre-eclampsia, possibly to attenuate the oxidative stress/inflammation.