Upregulation of neutrophil surface adhesion molecules in infants of pre-eclamptic women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate evidence of neutrophil activation in infants born to pre-eclamptic women and examine any association between degree of neutrophil activation and severity of pre-eclampsia.


METHODS
This study utilized quantitative flow cytometry to determine whether the expression of surface adhesion molecules: CD18, CD11a, CD11b, and CD11c on cord blood neutrophils using mean channel fluorescence values (MCF). A total of 20 infants of pre-eclamptic women were compared with a control group of 19 infants of normotensive women.


RESULTS
MCF values were significantly higher in infants born to pre-eclamptic women vs controls: CD18 (432.0+/-236.3 vs 230.5+/-97.9; p=0.002), CD11a (552.9+/-272.4 vs 326.9+/-268.6; p=0.003), CD11b (937.2+/-521.9 vs 576.6+/-352.9; p=0.025), and CD11c (228.5+/-130.3 vs 133.0+/-77.1; p=0.006), respectively. The mean MCF values appeared higher in severe vs mild pre-eclampsia.


CONCLUSIONS
This study revealed neutrophil activation in infants born to pre-eclamptic women. The relationship between neutrophil activation and severity of pre-eclampsia warrants further study.
Saini
Hemant
H
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, Lutheran General Children's Hospital, Park Ridge, IL 60068, USA.
Puppala
Bhagya L
BL
Angst
Denise
D
Gilman-Sachs
Alice
A
Costello
Michael
M
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D016023:Integrins / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D016023:Integrins