Expression of genes, encoding the enzymes of cysteine metabolism in human placenta in the first and third trimesters of uncomplicated pregnancy.

The cellular cysteine is highly regulated in a narrow range of concentrations due to its cyto- and neurtoxicity when it is overwhelmed or its deficiency for protein synthesis and other vital metabolic reactions when its amount is restricted. The regulation of cysteine content and its metabolic products, glutathione, taurine and inorganic sulfur compounds, is scarcely explored in human placenta though cysteine metabolism is closely related to the maintenance of redox status and protection from free radical oxidation, elimination of homocysteine and detoxification. These processes are particularly important for placenta which meets substantial changes of oxygen supply during its development, and is the last metabolically active organ between mother and fetus.

Placental markers of folate-related metabolism in preeclampsia.

The etiology and degree of clinical symptoms of preeclampsia depend on genotypic and phenotypic maternal and trophoblast factors, and elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) are one of the pathogenetic factors of preeclampsia. To assess the impact of the folate-related metabolism, we characterized the indices of this metabolism in 40 samples from uncomplicated term placentas and 28 samples from preeclamptic pregnancies by quantifying the total content of folate, methionine (Met), Hcy and related cysteine, and glutathione (GSH) in compliance with the 677 C/T genotype of methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). The prevalence of MTHFR genotypes was not significantly different between the two groups.

Low-density lipoproteins isolated from the blood of patients with coronary heart disease induce the accumulation of lipids in human aortic cells.

Smooth muscle cells cultured from the intima of unaffected human aorta accumulate lipids during incubation with the blood serum of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). Blood sera of most healthy subjects fail to induce the deposition of lipids in cultured cells. Very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), and high-density lipoproteins of two subclasses (HDL2 and HDL3) were isolated from the blood of healthy subjects and CHD patients.

Blood serum atherogenicity associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Evidence for nonlipid factor providing atherogenicity of low-density lipoproteins and an approach to its elimination.

To reveal the presence of atherogenic potential in the blood serum obtained from patients with angiographically assessed coronary atherosclerosis we used primary cultures of subendothelial cells isolated by collagenase from unaffected human aortic intima. Earlier, we have demonstrated that such cultures are made up mostly of typical and modified smooth muscle cells. Within 24 hours of cultivation with a 40% sera of patients suffering from coronary atherosclerosis, the total intracellular cholesterol level increased twofold to fivefold.