Systemic Th1/Th2 cytokine responses to paternal and vaccination antigens in preeclampsia: no differences compared with normal pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
A Th1-shift has been suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. This study was designed to compare Th1/Th2 related cytokine secretion in blood between women with preeclampsia (n = 15) and normal pregnancies (n = 15), using a high-sensitivity technique for cytokine detection.


METHODS
Spontaneous as well as 'fetus-specific' and recall antigen-specific (purified protein derivate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, tetanus toxoid and lipopolysaccharide) secretion of interferon-gamma, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10 and IL-12 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot-forming cell assay (ELISPOT). Fetus-specific secretion was induced by stimulation with paternal PBMC in a mixed leukocyte culture assay.


RESULTS
All cytokines were secreted by PBMCs both from women with preeclampsia and women with normal pregnancies. No differences in the number of cytokine-secreting cells were found between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
No evidence was found for a shift in the systemic Th1/Th2 responses, in preeclampsia compared with normal pregnancy. This does, however, not exclude differences in the local immune responses related to the fetoplacental unit.
Jonsson
Yvonne
Y
Autoimmunity and Immune Regulation, Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Division of Clinical Immunology, University Hospital, Linköping, Sweden. yvonne.jonsson@imk.liu.se
Ekerfelt
Christina
C
Berg
Göran
G
Nieminen
Katri
K
Sharma
Surendra
S
Ernerudh
Jan
J
Matthiesen
Leif
L
D000328:Adult; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002452:Cell Count; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D005220:Fathers; D005260:Female; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000494:pharmacology; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D007959:Lymphocyte Culture Test, Mixed; D008297:Male; D011108:Polymers / Q000494:pharmacology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid / Q000494:pharmacology; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014611:Vaccination
D000941:Antigens; D016207:Cytokines; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D011108:Polymers; D013745:Tetanus Toxoid; D014373:Tuberculin; C433788:lipopolysaccharide, E. coli O26-B6; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D005557:Formaldehyde; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; C003043:paraform