Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between thromboxane receptor expression and the pathogenesis of preeclampsia; Methods The expression of TXS, TPr and NOX1 in placenta of 36 preeclampsia gravidas and 34 normal gravidas were analysed with immunohistochemistry and Real-Time PCR assay. Futhermore, the expression of TXA2 was analyzed with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Result The expression of TXS and TPr were mainly located in the cytoplasm of placental cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast and villous vascular endothelial cells. The expression of NOX1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm of placental cytotrophoblast, syncytiotrophoblast, villous vascular endothelial cells and villous stromal cells. We found that the protein and mRNA expression of TXS and NOX1 were significantly higher in preeclamptic placentas than in normal placentas (P<0.05). Moreover, the protein expression of TXA2 were increased after preeclampsia (P<0.05). There was negative correlation between the protein expression of TXA2 and neonatal weight in preeclampsia (P<0.01). Besides, the positive correlation between the protein expression of TXA2 and NOX1mRNA in preeclampsia (P<0.05) was found. Conclusion TXA2 may improve the expression of NOX1 by activating TPr pathway which participate in the progress of preeclampsia.

Key words: Preeclampsia, Thromboxane synthase, Thromboxane A2, Thromboxane receptor, Non-phagocytic cell oxidase 1