title: Trophoblastic remodeling in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies: implication of cytokines.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To summarize the recent knowledge on the implications of placenta and cytokines in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was conducted of applicable articles related to interactions between trophoblast and cytokines in generating preeclampsia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The initiating event in preeclampsia has been postulated to be the reduced uteroplacental perfusion as a result of abnormal extravillous cytotrophoblast invasion and remodeling of the uterine spiral arteries. Focal ischemia and hypoxia, deportation of hypoxemic trophoblast cells and abnormal expression of various placental biologic molecules, particularly the cytokines, are thought to lead to widespread dysfunction of the maternal vascular endothelium resulting in overproduction of endothelin and thromboxane, enhanced vascular sensitivity to angiotensin II, and reduced secretion of vasodilators such as nitric oxide and prostacyclin. These alterations, in turn, cause hypertension, proteinuria and edema, and pathologies in many organ systems (kidney, lung, liver, brain).
authors.affiliation: Unité de périnatalogie, Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Saint-François d'Assise, CHUQ, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: Abdelaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kharfi
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Giguère
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sapin
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Massé
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dastugue
authors.forename: Jean-Claude
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Forest
mesh_terms: D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010920:Placenta / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines