The ratio of interleukin (IL)-18 to IL-12 secreted by peripheral blood mononuclear cells is increased in normal pregnant subjects and decreased in pre-eclamptic patients.
Interleukin (IL)-18 acts in synergy with IL-12 to promote development of T helper 1 (Th1) responses. On the other hand, IL-18 alone has the capacity to induce Th2 responses. Here, we have measured IL-18 and IL-12 secretion by non-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 17 non-pregnant women, 21 healthy pregnant women, 9 mildly pre-eclamptic patients and 15 severely pre-eclamptic patients. Th1/Th2 ratios in PBMC were determined by flow cytometry. PBMC from healthy pregnant subjects secreted more IL-18 and less IL-12 than non-pregnant women. PBMC from severely pre-eclamptic patients secreted more IL-12 than those from healthy pregnant women, while IL-18 secretion in mildly pre-eclamptic patients resembled that in normal pregnancy. The ratios of IL-18 to IL-12 were significantly higher in healthy pregnant women than non-pregnant women. These ratios were significantly lower in severely pre-eclamptic cases than in normal pregnancy subjects, while these ratios in mild pre-eclampsia resembled those in normal pregnancy. Interestingly, Th1/Th2 ratios were negatively correlated with the ratios of IL-18/IL-12. These results suggest that elevated IL-18 secretion and decreased IL-12 secretion by PBMC may induce Th2 dominance in normal pregnancy, while elevated secretion of both IL-18 and IL-12 by PBMC may cause Th1 dominance in severe pre-eclampsia.
Sakai
Masatoshi
M
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama-shi Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
Shiozaki
Arihiro
A
Sasaki
Yasushi
Y
Yoneda
Satoshi
S
Saito
Shigeru
S
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D020382:Interleukin-18; D018664:Interleukin-12