Preeclampsia activates circulating immune cells with engagement of the NF-kappaB pathway.
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.
Luppi
Patrizia
P
Division of Immunogenetics, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, PA 15213, USA. luppip+@pitt.edu
Tse
Hubert
H
Lain
Kristine Y
KY
Markovic
Nina
N
Piganelli
Jon D
JD
DeLoia
Julie A
JA
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*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D016328:NF-kappa B; D019041:L-Selectin