title: Increased concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand, RANTES and GRO-alpha in preeclampsia--possible role of platelet activation.
abstract: Activated platelets may release inflammatory mediators that activate leukocytes and trigger inflammatory reactions in endothelial cells. We examined the concentrations of soluble CD40 ligand (sCD40L) and the chemokines RANTES and GRO-alpha in platelet-free plasma (PFP), and unstimulated and SFLLRN-stimulated platelet-rich plasma (PRP), as well as in platelet pellets before stimulation using enzyme immunoassays. Nineteen women with normal and twenty-one with preeclamptic pregnancies were studied, and several differences between these two groups of pregnancies were revealed (1). Women with preeclampsia had significantly increased concentrations of sCD40L and GRO-alpha in PFP (2). Platelets from these patients spontaneously released larger quantities of CD40L and RANTES ex vivo (3). When further activated ex vivo by SFLLRN, platelets from preeclamptic women released lower amounts per platelet of CD40L, RANTES and GRO-alpha (4). The platelet pellets in preeclamptic women contained decreased amounts of CD40L, RANTES and GRO-alpha per platelet. Our findings suggest enhanced platelet activation in vivo during preeclampsia resulting in increased release of inflammatory mediators, possibly contributing to inflammation, leukocyte activation and endothelial dysfunction in this disorder.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Research, Medical Department, The National Hospital, University of Oslo, Norway. jan.mellembakken@rikshospitalet.no
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Mellembakken
authors.forename: N O
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Solum
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ueland
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Videm
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aukrust
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D010446:Peptide Fragments / Q000494:pharmacology; D015539:Platelet Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012995:Solubility
chemical_list: C475829:CXCL1 protein, human; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D054360:Chemokine CXCL1; D018925:Chemokines; D019743:Chemokines, CXC; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010446:Peptide Fragments; C082835:thrombin receptor peptide (42-47); D023201:CD40 Ligand