title: Relation between plasma endothelin-1 levels and T helper-1:T helper-2 immunity in women with twin pregnancies.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma ET-1 levels and T helper-1 (Th1):Th2 immunity in women with twin pregnancies. The percentage of Th1 and Th2 cells and the Th1:Th2 cell ratios in peripheral blood from 13 normal singleton pregnant women and 13 patients with twin pregnancies at 29-34 weeks' gestation were calculated using flow cytometry. The plasma ET-1 was also determined using a modified radioimmunoassay. The plasma ET-1 concentrations and the cell ratios of Th1:Th2 in twin pregnancies were significantly lower than those in singleton pregnancies. A positive correlation was found between plasma ET-1 levels and the ratios of Th1:Th2 cells in the whole subjects. Our results indicate that decreased ET-1 levels are associated with Th1:Th2 immunity in twin pregnancies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tokyo Rinkai Hospital, 1-4-2 Rinkai-cho, Edogawa-ku, Tokyo 134-0086, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoneyama
authors.forename: Rintaro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sawa
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Araki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011272:Pregnancy, Multiple / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology*; D014427:Twins
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1