Maternal plasma levels of cytokines in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies and their relationship with diastolic blood pressure and fibronectin levels.
BACKGROUND
To determine the plasma concentrations of placental growth factor (PLGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor (sTNFp55), interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), and interleukins 6 and 10 (IL-6, IL-10) in normotensive and preeclamptic women, and to evaluate the correlations between these cytokines and the diastolic blood pressure and fibronectin levels.


METHODS
A prospective case-control study. Thirty-five women with preeclampsia were compared with 34 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies. Peripheral venous blood samples were obtained and plasma levels of PLGF, VEGF, TGF-beta1, sTNFp55, IL-2R, IL-6 and IL-10 were measured by an enzyme-linked immunoassay and fibronectin by a radial immundiffusion technic.


RESULTS
In preeclampsia PLGF and VEGF levels were significantly lower, and TGF-beta1, sTNFp55, IL-2R, IL-6 and IL-10 levels were significantly higher than in normotensive pregnancy (p < 0.001). The plasma levels of PLGF and VEGF significantly decreased, whereas TGF-beta1, sTNFp55, IL-2R, IL-6 and IL-10 levels significantly increased with the increments in diastolic blood pressure and fibronectin levels (p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Altered concentrations of various cytokines might explain the shallow placentation and endothelial cell dysfunction described in preeclampsia. The clinical severity of preeclampsia seems to correlate with the severity of the cytokine abnormalities.
Madazli
Riza
R
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, University of Istanbul, Istanbul, Turkey. madazli@ixir.com
Aydin
Seval
S
Uludag
Seyfettin
S
Vildan
Ocak
O
Tolun
Necati
N
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D003971:Diastole; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000097:blood; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016207:Cytokines; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D005353:Fibronectins; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D008222:Lymphokines; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; C508960:TGFB1 protein, human; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor