Aspirin increases estrogen levels in the placenta to prevent preeclampsia by regulating placental metabolism and transport function

Abstract

Preeclampsia is a unique multisystem progressive disease during pregnancy, which seriously endangers the health of pregnant women and fetuses. In clinical practice, aspirin is recommended for the prevention of preeclampsia, but the mechanism by which aspirin prevents preeclampsia has not yet been revealed. This report comprehensively evaluates the effects of aspirin on the expression and activity of placental metabolic enzymes and transporters. We found that after aspirin administration, only the expression of organic anion transporter 4 (OAT4) in the placenta showed a significant increase at both mRNA and protein levels, consistent with the results in JAR cells. Meanwhile, studies on the metabolic enzyme activity in the placenta showed a high upregulation of CYP19A1 activity. Subsequently, significant increases in endogenous substrates of OAT4 and CYP19A1 (dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and androstenedione) as well as estrone were detected in placental tissue. In summary, aspirin enhances the transport of DHEAS through OAT4 and promotes the metabolism of androstenedione through CYP19A1, thereby increasing estrogen levels in the placenta. This may be the mechanism by which aspirin prevents preeclampsia and maintains pregnancy by regulating the metabolism and transport function of the placenta.