Background: Large newborns have increased risk of developing the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases both as child and during adulthood. The vascular endothelium is a target site in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disorders. Here we asked if umbilical cord plasma of high birth weight (HBW, > 4 kg) infants could modulate functional properties of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) compared with plasma from normal birth weight (NBW, 3.1-3.6 kg) infants.

Materials and methods: Activity and expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) were used as indicators of endothelial function. HUVECs were exposed for 48 h to 20% venous cord plasma from uncomplicated term pregnancies.

Results: The MMP-activity in supernatants of HUVECs exposed to HBW- plasma was nearly 3 times higher (P < 0.05) than that obtained with NBW-plasma. Both MMP-9 protein concentration and mRNA expression were enhanced (P < 0.05) in HBW whereas MMP-2 remained unchanged (P > 0.05). With specific blockers the increased MMP-activity and mRNA-MMP-9 could both be inhibited by about 70%. Cord lipid- and insulin concentrations were similar (P > 0.05) among the two groups. In addition we could not detect any differences between the two groups in concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines or specific tissue inhibitors of MMP in HUVEC supernatants. Conclusion: Cord plasma from HBW infants induced more MMP-9 activity in HUVECs compared with that of NBW infants. Although not identified, cord plasma of HBW infants may contain factors that induce endothelial cell MMP activity. These findings suggest an association between fetal nutritional conditions and endothelial cells functions.