Sulfasalazine for the treatment of preeclampsia in a nitric oxide synthase antagonist mouse model

Abstract

Introduction: Development of a therapeutic that targets the pathophysiological elements of preeclampsia would be a major advance for obstetrics, with potential to save the lives of countless mothers and babies. We recently identified anti-inflammatory drug sulfasalazine as a prospective candidate therapeutic for treatment of preeclampsia. In primary human cells and tissues in vitro, sulfasalazine potently decreased secretion of anti-angiogenic sFlt-1 and sENG, increased production of pro-angiogenic PlGF, mitigated endothelial dysfunction, and promoted whole vessel vasodilation. Methods: Using nitric oxide synthase antagonist Nω-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride, a preeclampsia-like..