S-nitrosoglutathione reductase deficiency causes aberrant placental S-nitrosylation and preeclampsia

ABSTRACT Preeclampsia (PE), a leading cause of maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity, is characterized by an increase in S-nitrosylated (SNO) proteins and reactive oxygen species (ROS), suggesting a pathophysiologic role for dysregulation in nitrosylation and nitrosative stress. Here we show that mice lacking S-nitrosoglutathione reductase ( GSNOR −/− ), a denitrosylase regulating protein S-nitrosylation, exhibit a PE phenotype, including hypertension, proteinuria, renal pathology, cardiac concentric hypertrophy, decreased placental vascularization, and fetal growth retardation. ROS, nitric oxide (NO) and peroxynitrite levels are elevated. Importantly, mass spectrometry reveals elevated placental SNO-amino acid residues in GSNOR −/− mice. Ascorbate reverses the phenotype except for fetal weight, reduces the difference in the S-nitrosoproteome, and identifies a unique set of SNO-proteins in GSNOR −/− mice. Therefore, deficiency of GSNOR creates dysregulation of placental S-nitrosylation and preeclampsia in mice, which can be rescued by ascorbate. These findings offer valuable insights and therapeutic implications for PE. Abstract Figure Graphical Abstract: Dysregulation in nitrosylation contributes to nitroso-redox imbalance and nitrosative stress contributing to clinical features of PE including hypertension, proteinuria, concentric hypertrophy in the heart, decrease placental vascularization and fetal growth restriction. Antioxidant treatment rescued the PE-like phenotype in the mother.