The expression and concentrations of Fas/APO-1 (CD95) antigen in patients with severe pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
Apoptosis has been proposed as a mechanism for maintaining homeostasis in the immune system. Activated lymphocytes are removed by a Fas/FasL-mediated programmed cell death process called activation induced cell death (AICD). The aim of the study was to investigate surface Fas antigen (APO-1, CD95) expression on T lymphocytes and NK cells and also soluble Fas antigen concentrations in pre-eclamptic patients and healthy pregnant women.


METHODS
Sixteen pre-eclamptic patients and 18 healthy pregnant women were studied. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated, labeled by direct staining with anti-CD95 monoclonal antibodies and analyzed using the flow cytometric method. Furthermore, the concentrations of soluble CD95 molecule in serum of patients with severe pre-eclampsia and women with uncomplicated pregnancy were measured using ELISA method.


RESULTS
We found that Fas antigen expression and fluorescence intensity on T CD8+ lymphocytes were higher in patients with severe pre-eclampsia in comparison with healthy pregnant women (P<0.05). Furthermore, the concentrations of soluble CD95 molecule were higher in the group of pre-eclamptic patients when compared to controls (P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that T CD8+ lymphocytes in patients with severe pre-eclampsia can be activated. Moreover, higher concentrations of soluble CD95 antigen can suggest altered possibilities to undergo Fas/FasL-mediated activation induced cell death process of lymphocytes in severe pre-eclampsia.
Darmochwal-Kolarz
D
D
Department of Clinical Immunology, University School of Medicine, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-950, Lublin, Poland. dorotak@mp.pl
Leszczynska-Gorzelak
B
B
Rolinski
J
J
Oleszczuk
J
J
D000328:Adult; D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D016923:Cell Death; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000302:isolation & purification*
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D019014:fas Receptor