Elevated levels of adhesion molecules derived from leukocytes and endothelial cells in patients with pregnancy-induced hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
Our purpose was to elucidate the role of adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).


METHODS
Sera, peripheral lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) from PIH patients, normal pregnant women, and nonpregnant women were collected. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in sera was measured by ELISA. ICAM-1 expression on endothelial cells (EC) incubated with sera was analyzed by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. CD11a, CD11b, and CD18 expression on lymphocytes and PMN were also measured by flow cytometory.


RESULTS
CD11a and CD18 expression levels on PMN and lymphocytes of PIH patients were significantly higher than those of normal pregnant women (p<0.05). The expression of CD11b was significantly increased in normal pregnancy compared with that in nonpregnant women (p<0.05). Serum sICAM-1 in PIH patients was higher than that in normal pregnant women (p<0.05). ICAM-1 expression level on EC incubated with PIH serum for 24 hr was significantly higher than that with normal pregnant serum (p<0.0005). ICAM-1 mRNA expression after 12-hr incubation with PIH serum was also significantly increased compared with serum from normal pregnant women (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Adhesion molecules may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PIH.
Abe
Emiko
E
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shigenobu, Ehime, Japan.
Matsubara
Keiichi
K
Ochi
Hiroshi
H
Ito
Masaharu
M
Oka
Keizo
K
Kameda
Kenji
K
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D039641:Integrin beta Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D039001:Integrin alpha Chains; D039641:Integrin beta Chains; D016169:Lymphocyte Function-Associated Antigen-1; D016177:Macrophage-1 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D018799:Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1