Proteasomal activity in placentas from women with preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction: implications for expression of HIF-alpha proteins.

Hypoxia-inducible transcription factor-1alpha and -2alpha (HIF-alpha) proteins and regulated genes are increased in preeclamptic (PE) placentas. Although placental hypoxia likely stabilizes HIF-alpha proteins, we previously reported that there is also a defect in oxygen-dependent reduction of HIF-alpha proteins in PE relative to normal pregnant (NP) placentas that could contribute to their over-expression. After a 4-h exposure to 2% oxygen, placental villous explants were exposed to 21% oxygen over 90 min.