Potential mechanism of transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 combined with an ATP‑sensitive potassium channel in severe preeclampsia

Severe preeclampsia is one of the most serious obstetric diseases. However, the pathogenesis of the disease is not fully understood. In the present study, placental artery and blood serum was collected from patients with severe preeclampsia, as well as from normal pregnant women. The results of reverse transcription-quantitative (q)PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical staining revealed markedly decreased transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) subtype Kir6.1/SUR2B and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in severe preeclampsia tissue specimens compared with those in samples from normal pregnant women. The nitrate reduction method indicated lower NO levels in the tissue specimens and serum of patients with severe preeclampsia. Moreover, hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the endothelial cell layer in the placental artery of patients with severe preeclampsia was notably damaged. To investigate the potential role of TRPV1-KATP channels in severe preeclampsia, HUVECs were used for in vitro experiments. The samples were divided into a control group, a TRPV1 agonist group (capsaicin) and a TRPV1 inhibitor group (capsazepine). qPCR and western blotting revealed that the relative gene and protein expression levels of TRPV1, Kir6.1, SUR2B and eNOS in the control group were significantly lower than those in the capsaicin group and considerably higher than those in the capsazepine group. Based on previous studies and the results of the present study, we hypothesized that impairment of the endothelial TRPV1-KATP channels results in decreased eNOS/NO pathway activity, which may be one of the mechanisms involved in severe preeclampsia. The increase in NO generation mediated by TRPV1-KATP may be a suitable target for the management of severe preeclampsia.