Relationship between adenosine and T-helper 1/T-helper 2 balance in hyperemesis gravidarum.
BACKGROUND
Adenosine modulates the T-helper (Th) 1/T-helper (Th) 2 balance. We evaluated the relationship between changes in plasma adenosine and the T-helper (Th) 1/T-helper (Th) 2 balance in hyperemesis gravidarum.


METHODS
Plasma adenosine concentrations and the Th1/Th2 ratio were examined in the peripheral blood of 24 women with hyperemesis gravidarum and normal pregnancies. The proportion of CD4-positive cells that expressed intracellular cytokines (interferon gamma and interleukin 4) was analyzed by flow cytometry. The ratio of interferon-gamma-secreting cells to interleukin-4-secreting cells was taken as the Th1/Th2 ratio in vivo. The change induced by adenosine-receptor blocker 8-sulfophenyltheophylline was also measured in vitro to evaluate the possible role of adenosine in modifying the Th1/Th2 balance.


RESULTS
In hyperemesis gravidarum, plasma adenosine and the proportion of interleukin-4-secreting cells were increased significantly, and the Th1/Th2 ratio was significantly lower than in normal pregnancy (p<0.05). The decrease in the proportion of IL-4-secreting cells after adenosine receptor blockade in hyperemesis gravidarum significantly exceeded that of normal pregnancy (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Increased plasma adenosine may be involved in regulating the Th1/Th2 balance in hyperemesis gravidarum.
Kiyokawa
Yasuko
Y
Department of Reproductive Medicine, Tokyo Institute of Women's Health, 2-5-9, Honkomagome, Tokyo 113-0021, Japan.
Yoneyama
Yoshio
Y
D000241:Adenosine / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D058915:Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1 / Q000378:metabolism; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*
D058915:Purinergic P1 Receptor Antagonists; D018047:Receptors, Purinergic P1; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma; D000241:Adenosine