Effects of Theobroma cacao on heat shock protein 90 and asymmetric dimethylarginine of endothelial cells under the influence of plasma of pre-eclamptic patients

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the modulatory role of an ethanol extract of Theobroma cacao beans on heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels of endothelial cells under the influence of plasma of pre-eclamptic patients. METHODS: The endothelial cells were obtained from a human umbilicus. In the confluent phase, the cells were subdivided into groups: the control group (no treatment), the endothelial cell group that was exposed to 2% pre-eclamptic patients' plasma, and the endothelial cell group that was exposed to 2% pre-eclamptic patients' plasma and treated with the ethanol extract of T. cacao at various doses (25, 50, or 100 ppm). Analysis of HSP90 levels was carried out by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Quantification of ADMA was conducted by immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: There was a decreased HSP90 level in the group exposed to the pre-eclamptic patients' plasma. This decrease was significantly attenuated by the extract of T. cacao at the doses of 50 and 100 ppm. The pre-eclamptic patients' plasma significantly increased ADMA level as compared with the control group. This increase was significantly attenuated by the administration of the T. cacao extract at the two highest doses. CONCLUSIONS: The extract of T. cacao beans protected the endothelial cells that were exposed to pre-eclamptic patients' plasma by increasing HSP90 levels and reducing ADMA levels.