Influence of the AT(2) receptor on the L-arginine-nitric oxide pathway and effects of (-)-epicatechin on HUVECs from women with preeclampsia.

Pregnancy is a state of vasodilation mediated by nitric oxide (NO). This vasodilation is impaired in women with preeclampsia, and an alteration in the L-arginine-NO pathway may be a causal factor. The production of NO and arginase activity were investigated in plasma and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) from women with preeclampsia, which were associated with arginase II, eNOS, caveolin, angiotensin 1 and 2 receptor expression (AT1R and AT2R, respectively).