Neutrophil CD11B expression and neutrophil activation in pre-eclampsia.
1. Neutrophil activation was examined in 22 women with pre-eclampsia and 22 age- and gestation-matched control subjects using whole-blood flow cytometry to assess basal and platelet-activating factor stimulated CD11b and CD18. 2. Basal neutrophil CD11b expression was significantly increased in women with pre-eclampsia compared with normal pregnancy before delivery. A similar non-significant trend for CD18 was also observed. 3. Before delivery, neutrophil CD11b expression increased in a dose-dependent fashion after platelet-activating factor stimulation, with the differences between the groups maintained. A similar dose-dependent increase in CD18 expression was observed after platelet-activating factor. 4. There were no between-group differences in expression of either CD11b or CD18 at either 6 weeks or 6 months post partum, either before or after platelet-activating factor stimulation. 5. Neutrophil CD11b was positively correlated with plasma uric acid (r = 0.44, P = 0.04) in women with pre-eclampsia, suggesting that the extent of neutrophil activation correlates with disease severity. 6. An increase in basal neutrophil CD11b expression in women with pre-eclampsia is likely to be an index of neutrophil activation in vivo. Neutrophil release of free radicals and proteases may then help perpetuate a vicious cycle of endothelial and vascular dysfunction in the placental and systemic circulations. The cause of this activation is not known but could involve platelet activation, increased production of endothelin-1 or release of cytokines. Further studies will be required to elucidate the consequences of neutrophil activation in pre-eclampsia.
Barden
A
A
University Department of Medicine, Royal Perth Hospital, Australia.
Graham
D
D
Beilin
L J
LJ
Ritchie
J
J
Baker
R
R
Walters
B N
BN
Michael
C A
CA
D000328:Adult; D018821:CD18 Antigens / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000502:physiology*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D018821:CD18 Antigens; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D014527:Uric Acid