Relation between plasma endothelin 1 levels and T helper 1: T helper 2 cell immunity in women with preeclampsia.
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.
Kuwajima
T
T
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan.
Suzuki
S
S
Yoneyama
Y
Y
Sawa
R
R
Asakura
H
H
Araki
T
T
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*
D019332:Endothelin-1