Tumor necrosis factor-alpha in gestation and puerperium of women with gestational hypertension and pre-eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
High plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in pregnant women have been associated with the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia (PE). This study evaluated TNF-alpha plasma levels and monocyte production in gestational hypertension (GH) and PE during gestation and at puerperium.


METHODS
This study included 128 women, of whom 20 were non-pregnant (NP) normotensive (NT), and 108 were pregnant: 36 NT, 27 with GH, and 45 with PE. Peripheral blood plasma was used for TNF-alpha and uric acid determination. TNF-alpha was determined in plasma and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated and non-stimulated monocyte supernatants by L929 bioassay.


RESULTS
Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and uric acid plasma levels were higher in PE than in GH pregnancies. In both hypertensive groups, these parameters positively correlated and were significantly more elevated than in NT and NP women. TNF-alpha plasma levels and monocyte production were higher in hypertensive than in NT women during gestation, and significantly decreased at puerperium. Although decreased, TNF-alpha release in LPS-stimulated PE monocytes, was still significantly higher than in the other pregnant groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In vivo monocyte activation in GH and PE pregnant women was characterized by in vitro TNF-alpha production. The fact that higher circulating concentrations of TNF-alpha and uric acid were observed in PE than in GH suggests an association with disease severity.
Peraçoli
José Carlos
JC
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University, 18618-970 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil. peracoli@fmb.unesp.br
Rudge
Marilza Vieira Cunha
MV
Peraçoli
Maria Terezinha Serrão
MT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000097:blood*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood
D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D014527:Uric Acid