Summer Studentship profile

What do you get to work on throughout your studentship? 

I am fortunate to have been able to learn and perform several experimental techniques, including isolation and culturing of endothelial cells (cells on the inside of our blood vessels) collected from umbilical cords, protein isolation from cell cultures, Western blot (used to detect specific proteins), immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscopy. The support from WCHRI, the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation and the Alberta Women's Health Foundation has been invaluable in providing me with the opportunity to learn these skills.

What's been the best part of your experience so far?

By far, the best part of my research experiences this summer has been the mentorship that I have received in the Davidge Lab. The companionship and support of all the members of the Davidge Lab have helped me become a capable, independent and self-motivated researcher. Dr. Davidge's mentorship has vastly expanded my knowledge on preeclampsia, through conducting extensive literature reviews, performing my own experiments and analyzing my data. Her passion for pregnancy and cardiovascular physiology research has been inspirational, driving me to work harder and persevere through difficulties.

Did you have any interesting results?

Yes! I have been working with particles isolated from the placentas of women with normal pregnancies or preeclampsia, and with human umbilical vein endothelial cells as a tool to evaluate the effects of these particles on endothelial cell function. We showed that treating endothelial cells with placental particles from normal pregnancies induces markers of inflammation along with increased levels of markers of nitrative and oxidative stress in these cells. We also showed that these effects were partially mediated via a specific receptor (called LOX-1) on the endothelial cells, which is known to play a role in other cardiovascular diseases. Finally, we showed that placental particles from normal pregnancies may induce cell death in endothelial cells.

What impact do you hope this project makes once completed? How will this contribute to improving the health of women and/or children?

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy syndrome occurring in around five per cent of all pregnancies in Canada. It is a major cause of maternal and fetal mortality and a risk factor for long-term cardiovascular disease in both the mother and offspring. Although the adverse effects of preeclampsia are well described, the pathogenesis is still unknown and there is no current treatment for it. My project will increase the understanding of the mechanisms by which preeclampsia occurs and contribute to an active field of study aimed to improve women's and children's health. My results showing the effects of placental particles on endothelial cells and the role of LOX-1 supports the proposal that LOX-1 may be a potential therapeutic target for future interventions in preeclampsia to prevent and treat women (and fetuses) affected by this syndrome.

What has the support from WCHRI, the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation and Alberta Women’s Health Foundation meant to you?

As an aspiring clinician-scientist, the support from WCHRI, the Stollery Children's Hospital Foundation and the Alberta Women's Health Foundation has meant a lot to me. I am incredibly honoured to have been given the privilege to work in a lab at such an early stage in my career. I am grateful to these organizations for their support, which drives me to work harder and persevere through obstacles.

Lay abstract:

Preeclampsia (PE) is a prevalent threat to maternal and fetal health affecting approximately five per cent of pregnancies in Canada, characterized by hypertension—high blood pressure—and adverse pregnancy outcomes. PE is a significant threat to public health, as it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality for both the mother and the child, and negatively impacts their cardiovascular health later in life. To date, the only known cure is the removal of the placenta. 

A potential factor that may cause hypertension in PE is impaired function of the mother's blood vessels, specifically the endothelial cells, which line the inner walls of blood vessels and regulate vessel function. Impaired function of endothelial cells results in blood vessel dysfunction, which may ultimately lead to elevated blood pressure. A normal placenta releases cellular particles into the maternal bloodstream. It is thought that women with PE have an abnormal placenta and that elevated release of these particles may impair endothelial function. However, the impact of placental particles from PE on endothelial function has yet to be explored. 

We aimed to study if, and how, placental particles from PE pregnancies impact endothelial function compared to placental particles from normal pregnancies. Using endothelial cells from human umbilical cords, we will evaluate the mechanisms and the effects of placental particles isolated from normal or PE placentas on endothelial function. This research will further our understanding of the role the placenta may play in the development of PE and enable us to develop new therapies to prevent or reduce the adverse outcomes of PE.