Neutrophil apoptosis in preeclampsia, do steroids confound the relationship?
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the influence of maternal corticosteroid administration on neutrophil apoptosis in early onset preeclampsia.


METHODS
We investigated five groups: early onset preeclampsia (EOPET, <34 weeks, n = 10); late-onset preeclampsia (LOPET, > or =34 weeks, n = 7); normotensive intrauterine growth restriction (nIUGR, n = 11); normal pregnancy (NPC, n = 22); and non-pregnancy (n = 10). We examined, by flow cytometry, spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis after 18 h culture (hypodiploid DNA, Annexin V binding, propidium iodide [PI] permeability).


RESULTS
For the 10 women with EOPET exposed to betamethasone in the previous 48 h, we found that neutrophil apoptosis was not inappropriately inhibited, in contrast to our previous findings in women not thus exposed. Neither LOPET nor nIUGR differed from normal pregnancy.


CONCLUSIONS
Betamethasone alters the rate of spontaneous neutrophil apoptosis in EOPET. The anti-inflammatory influence of betamethasone may explain some of the differences between our previous and present findings with respect to neutrophil apoptosis in EOPET. Corticosteroids ameliorate the course of antenatal and postnatal preeclampsia. These results may reflect the mechanisms that underlie the transient improvements seen with antenatal dexamethasone use.
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia V6H 3N1, Canada.
Akiko
A
Fuchisawa
Stephan
S
van Eeden
Laura A
LA
Magee
Beth
B
Whalen
Peter C K
PC
Leung
James A
JA
Russell
Keith R
KR
Walley
Peter
P
von Dadelszen
D000328:Adult; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D001623:Betamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000097:blood; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005865:Gestational Age; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011419:Propidium; D011446:Prospective Studies
D017304:Annexin A5; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D011419:Propidium; D001623:Betamethasone