Vasoactive diadenosine polyphosphates in human placenta

BACKGROUND: One hypothesis of the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia is that placentally derived, yet unidentified, vasoactive factors are released into the maternal circulation, causing hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To determine if diadenosine polyphosphates, new potent vasoconstrictors, are present in human placenta.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Human placental tissue was homogenated and fractionated by size-exclusion chromatography, affinity chromatography, anion-exchange chromatography and reversed-phase chromatography. In fractions purified to homogeneity, diadenosine diphosphate, diadenosine triphosphate, diadenosine tetraphosphate, diadenosine pentaphosphate, diadenosine hexaphosphate and diadenosine heptaphosphate were identified by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, retention-time comparison and enzymatic cleavage analysis.

CONCLUSIONS: The presence of diadenosine polyphosphates in human placenta makes them possible candidates for involvement in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia. However, their contribution to the pathophysiology of eclampsia requires substantiation in further studies.