title: Preeclampsia activates circulating immune cells with engagement of the NF-kappaB pathway.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compelling evidence implicates peripheral immune activation in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia. Polymorphonuclear neutrophils appear to be the cells most strongly affected, with changes in expression of surface markers and release of granule enzymes. Here, we investigated activation in additional leukocyte populations among women with preeclampsia.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used flow cytometry to evaluate changes in leukocyte markers in preeclampsia compared with uncomplicated pregnancy. To gain insights into intracellular pathways involved in leukocyte activation, we monitored the NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway. Plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) were also studied as an additional indication of cellular activation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preeclampsia is associated with changes in L-selectin (CD62L) on neutrophils (P = 0.004), monocytes (P = 0.013), and T cells (P = 0.048) when compared with normal pregnancy. These changes include an increase in nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and increased levels of IL-6 (P = 0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings are consistent with the presence of a generalized phenomenon of immune activation in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA. luppip+@pitt.edu
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luppi
authors.forename: Hubert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tse
authors.forename: Kristine Y
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Lain
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Markovic
authors.forename: Jon D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Piganelli
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: DeLoia
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D019041:L-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019041:L-Selectin