title: Changes in serum levels of leptin, cytokines and lipoprotein in pre-eclamptic and normotensive pregnant women.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in serum levels of leptin, cytokines and lipoproteins in women with pre-eclampsia and to evaluate their clinical significance in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. We performed a prospective study involving 45 women with pre-eclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy and 30 normotensive women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Serum level of leptin was measured by enzyme immunoassay using a Cayman chemical kit. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-1beta, soluble IL-2 receptor (slL-2R), IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by using a non-radioimmunoassay chemiluminescent method. Serum lipid concentrations were measured by an Abbott Aeroset (USA) autoanalyzer. Serum levels of apolipoprotein (Apo)A-I and ApoB were evaluated by nephelometrics assays. Differences between groups were evaluated with Student's unpaired t test and, when a variable was not normally distributed, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. The relationship between the variable was explored by the Pearson correlation test. Serum levels of leptin, TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, sIL-2R, IL-6 and IL-8 in the pre-eclamptic women were significantly higher than in normotensive women (p < 0.001). In the pre-eclamptic women serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were significantly increased (p < 0.001), while high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and Apo-A were significantly decreased compared to levels in normotensive pregnant women (p < 0.001). No significant differences were noted between the groups in Apo-B (p > 0.05). Serum levels of TNF-alpha were significantly correlated with the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, triglycerides, sIL-2R, Apo-A and hematocrit in pre-eclamptic women (r = 0.418, p < 0.05; r= 0.389, p < 0.01; r=0.312, p < 0.05; r= -0.318, p < 0.05; r= -0.340, p < 0.05 and r=0.41, p < 0.01, respectively). A negative correlation was seen between serum level of leptin and both IL-1beta and Apo-A in pre-eclamptic women (r=-0.44, p < 0.05; r=-0.39, p < 0.05, respectively). Serum levels of IL-6 were also significantly correlated with the serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) in pre-eclamptic women (r=0.40, p < 0.01; r=-0.568, p < 0.01; r= -0.30, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, serum level of IL-8 were significantly correlated with the serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and BMI in pre-eclamptic women (r= 0.368, p < 0.05; r=0.513, p < 0.01 and r= -0.41, p < 0.01, respectively). We found that the pre-eclampsia associated with increases in serum levels of leptin, TNF-alpha, cytokines, triglycerides, total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol was associated with a significant reduction in serum levels of HDL-cholesterol and Apo-A. These association may be due to the abnormal lipid metabolism and immune activation involved in the pathogenesis of this disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koçyigit
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Atamer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Atamer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuzcu
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Akkus
mesh_terms: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000097:blood; D001055:Apolipoproteins B / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2 / Q000097:blood; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D001055:Apolipoproteins B; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D016207:Cytokines; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; C515448:LEPR protein, human; D020738:Leptin; D008074:Lipoproteins; D015375:Receptors, Interleukin-2; D054411:Receptors, Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002784:Cholesterol