Vasoactive diadenosine polyphosphates in human placenta: possible candidates in the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia?

Background One hypothesis of the pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia is that p lacentally derived, yet unidentified, vasoactive factors are released into the maternal circulation, causing hypertension. Objective To determine if diadenosine polyphosphates, new potent vasoconstr ictors, 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 desorpt ion/ionization mass spetrometry, retention-time comparison and enzymatic cl eavage analysis, Conclusions The presence of diadenosine polyphosphates in human placenta ma kes them possible candidates for involvement in the pathophysiology of pree clampsia, However, their contribution to the pathophysiology of eclampsia r equires substantiation in further studies.