Maternal peripheral blood leukocytes in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To analyse activation of maternal peripheral blood leukocytes by flow cytometric measurements of intracellular free-ionised calcium of lymphocytes, granulocytes and monocytes, separately.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
High risk pregnancy service in a regional centre.


METHODS
Samples from 10 women with pre-eclampsia, 10 appropriately-matched women with normal pregnancy, nine multigravid normal women at mid-gestation selected as being least likely to demonstrate any tendencies towards pre-eclampsia, and 11 healthy nonpregnant women of reproductive age were studied.


METHODS
Using flow cytometry, intracellular free ionised calcium ([Ca2+]i) was estimated by loading the cells with Fluo-3 and measuring the changes in fluorescence intensity induced by free ionised calcium. After the basal levels were measured, the response of phagocytes to stimulation with n-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) was determined.


METHODS
Basal [Ca2+]i of peripheral blood leukocytes.


RESULTS
Median basal [Ca2+]i was significantly increased in all three subsets of leukocytes--lymphocytes, granulocytes and monocytes in pre-eclampsia--compared with the three control groups. Samples from both groups of women with normal pregnancy did not differ from those from nonpregnant women. The peak responses of monocytes to stimulation with 10 nmol fMLP were greater in samples from pre-eclamptic women, giving evidence of priming.


CONCLUSIONS
Peripheral blood leukocytes are activated in pre-eclampsia in terms of basal changes in the intracellular second messenger--free ionised calcium. Peripheral blood monocytes are primed to give greater responses after stimulation with fMLP.
von Dadelszen
P
P
Nuffield Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford.
Wilkins
T
T
Redman
C W
CW
D000328:Adult; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000502:physiology; D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
D009240:N-Formylmethionine Leucyl-Phenylalanine; D002118:Calcium