Cytokine secretion by decidual lymphocytes in transient hypertension of pregnancy and pre-eclampsia.
BACKGROUND
Transient hypertension (TH) and preeclampsia (PE) are believed to have different pathophysiology. However, 15-25% of pregnant women initially diagnosed as having TH develop PE. To clarify the immuno-pathogenetical connections between the two syndromes, we studied the pattern of T helper cell (Th)1/Th2 cytokine balance disturbances existing inside maternal decidua in normal pregnancy (NP) and pregnancies complicated with TH and PE.


METHODS
Third-trimester decidual tissue was obtained by curettage of uterine cavity during elective caesarean sections in NP (n = 11), TH (n = 17) and PE (n = 21) patients. Cell suspensions were prepared by an electromechanical dispersal method and centrifugated using a standard gradient sedimentation technique. Isolated lymphocytes were placed in medium (RPMI 1640, 10% fetal calf serum, L-glutamine, penicillin, streptomycin) and cultured for 72 h with or without mitogen phytohaemaglutinine (PHA). The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method was used for estimation of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in culture supernatant.


METHODS
The Kruskal-Wallis and the Mann-Whitney U tests were used (p < 0.05).


RESULTS
Both spontaneous and PHA-stimulated secretion of Th2-type cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 was decreased in PE patients compared with TH and NP patients. The concentration of Th1-type cytokine IFN-gamma was increased in patients suffering both from TH and PE.


CONCLUSIONS
On the base of decidual cytokine secretion, both PE and TH are syndromes of local Th1/Th2 cytokine balance disturbances as compared with NP, and TH seems to be an intermediate step to PE.
Wilczyński
Jacek R
JR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Basic Sciences, Military Medical Academy, Lodz, Poland. jrwil@post.pl
Tchórzewski
Henryk
H
Głowacka
Ewa
E
Banasik
Małgorzata
M
Lewkowicz
Przemyslaw
P
Szpakowski
Marian
M
Zeman
Krzysztof
K
Wilczyński
Jan
J
D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000276:immunology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000276:immunology*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines