The immunosuppressive cytokines influence the fetal survival in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
The present study examines the hypothesis that the elevated levels of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and interleukin (IL)-10 would be protective for the fetus survival during pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). Moreover, we evaluate the IL-12 and IL-15 serum concentrations and their relationships with PIH.


METHODS
Serum samples were obtained before the onset of labor from control and PIH groups. Cytokine concentrations were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunoadsorbent Assay.


RESULTS
Our data show that PIH women have significantly higher TGF-beta1 and IL-10 concentrations with respect to control groups (P = 0.0001). Similarly, macrophages from the PIH placentas produce in vitro more elevated TGF-beta1 and IL-10 levels compared to normal pregnant ones (P = 0.02), also in the absence of LPS stimulation. IL-12 and IL-15 serum concentrations were not detectable in all pregnant groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We have found that PIH women have elevated concentrations of anti-inflammatory/immunosuppressive cytokines, suggesting their important role in fetal allograft protection during the normal and pathological pregnancy.
Del Gobbo
V
V
Department of Experimental Medicine and Biochemical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy. delgobbo@med.uniroma2.it
Giganti
M G
MG
Zenobi
R
R
Villani
V
V
Premrov
M G
MG
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000276:immunology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000276:immunology*; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic / Q000097:blood; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood
D016207:Cytokines; D019409:Interleukin-15; D013491:Suppressor Factors, Immunologic; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12