Lymphocyte subset distribution and cytokine secretion in third trimester decidua in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.
BACKGROUND
Excessive Th1 activity in peripheral blood plays a probable role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. The aim of the study was to investigate whether disturbed local immune reactions are also present in decidua.


METHODS
Flow cytometric analysis of CD3, CD19, CD56/CD16, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD29, CD4/CD45RA, CD4/CD45RO, CD8/CD28, CD3/CD69 lymphocyte subsets isolated from third trimester decidua of pregnants with preeclampsia (n=21) and pregnant controls (n=11) subjected to elective caesarean sections. Spontaneous and phytohemaglutynine stimulated "in vitro" secretion of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-gamma and TGF-beta by decidual lymphocytes was studied by ELISA. For the statistical significance of differences between the groups the U Mann-Whitney test was performed (confidence interval P<0.05).


RESULTS
Preeclamptic patients were characterized with an increased percentage of the CD3-/CD56+CD16+, CD8+/CD28+ and decreased percentage of CD3+, CD19+, CD4+/CD45RA+ lymphocytes. The profile of secreted cytokines shifts in favor of Th1 activity (extremely high IFN-gamma and low IL-6 and IL-10 secretion). Decidual IL-12 secretion in preeclamptic patients is decreased compared to controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Changes in NK and T lymphocyte subsets followed with Th1 cytokine IFN-gamma over-activity, could affect local immunoregulatory mechanisms in third trimester decidua of preeclamptic patients.
Wilczyński
Jacek R
JR
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Military Medical Academy, Lodz, Poland. jrwil@post.pl
Tchórzewski
Henryk
H
Banasik
Małgorzata
M
Głowacka
Ewa
E
Wieczorek
Artur
A
Lewkowicz
Przemysław
P
Malinowski
Andrzej
A
Szpakowski
Marian
M
Wilczyński
Jan
J
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D003656:Decidua / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000473:pathology*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012016:Reference Values; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000378:metabolism
D015703:Antigens, CD; D016207:Cytokines; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma