The relationship between free fatty acids and mitochondrial oxidative stress damage to trophoblast cell in preeclampsia

AIM: To investigate the effects of free fatty acids on mitochondrial oxidative stress and the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. METHODS: Human primary trophoblast cells at 6–8 weeks of gestation were retrieved and cultured to 70–80% confluence, then incubated in serum from women with a normal pregnancy (normal pregnancy group), women with preeclampsia (PE group), and a combination of serum from women with 24 h preeclampsia-like symptoms and free fatty acids (FFA group). Mitochondrial membrane potential was assessed by fluorescent dye concurrent with detection of membrane channel conversion pore activity by fluorescence microscope. Enzyme labeling instruments and RT-PCR were used to detect mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) levels. RESULTS: The preeclampsia and free fatty acids groups both exhibited significantly higher levels of mitochondria oxidative stress damage when compared to the normal pregnancy group. However, no significant differences in mitochondrial oxidative stress damage were observed between the FFA and PE groups. CONCLUSIONS: Serum free fatty acids might play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia by enhancing mitochondrial oxidative stress damage.