title: Relation between plasma endothelin 1 levels and T helper 1: T helper 2 cell immunity in women with preeclampsia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1) levels and T helper (Th)-1:Th2 cell immunity in women with preeclampsia. The percentage of Th1 and Th2 cells and the Th1:Th2 cell ratios in peripheral blood from 11 normal pregnant women and 11 patients with preeclampsia at 29-34 weeks of gestation were calculated using flow cytometry. The plasma ET-1 level was also determined using a modified radioimmunoassay. The plasma ET-1 concentrations and the Th1:Th2 cell ratios in normal pregnancies were significantly lower than those in patients with preeclampsia. Negative correlations were found between plasma ET-1 levels and Th2 cells in both the preeclamptic pregnancy groups and in the normal pregnant women. Our results indicate that elevated ET-1 levels are associated with a Th1:Th2 imbalance in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kuwajima
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoneyama
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asakura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1