title: Maternal serum soluble CD30 is increased in normal pregnancy, but decreased in preeclampsia and small for gestational age pregnancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Women with preeclampsia and those who deliver small for gestational age (SGA) neonates are characterized by intravascular inflammation (T helper 1 (Th1)-biased immune response). There is controversy about the T helper 2 (Th2) response in preeclampsia and SGA. CD30, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, is preferentially expressed in vitro and in vivo by activated T cells producing Th2-type cytokines. Its soluble form (sCD30) has been proposed to be an index of Th2 immune response. The objective of this study was to determine whether the maternal serum concentration of sCD30 changes with normal pregnancy, as well as in mothers with preeclampsia and those who deliver SGA neonates.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included patients in the following groups: (1) non-pregnant women (N = 49); (2) patients with a normal pregnancy (N = 89); (3) patients with preeclampsia (N = 100); and (4) patients who delivered an SGA neonate (N = 78). Maternal serum concentration of sCD30 was measured by a specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunoassay. Non-parametric tests with post-hoc analysis were used for comparisons. A p value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (1) The median sCD30 serum concentration of pregnant women was significantly higher than that of non-pregnant women (median 29.7 U/mL, range 12.2-313.2 vs. median 23.2 U/mL, range 14.6-195.1, respectively; p = 0.01). (2) Patients with preeclampsia had a significantly lower median serum concentration of sCD30 than normal pregnant women (median 24.7 U/mL, range 7.6-71.2 vs. median 29.7 U/mL, range 12.2-313.2, respectively; p < 0.05). (3) Mothers with SGA neonates had a lower median concentration of sCD30 than normal pregnant women (median 23.4 U/mL, range 7.1-105.3 vs. median 29.7 U/mL, range 12.2-313.2, respectively; p < 0.05). (4) There was no significant correlation (r = -0.059, p = 0.5) between maternal serum sCD30 concentration and gestational age (19-38 weeks) in normal pregnant women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (1) Patients with preeclampsia and those who deliver an SGA neonate had a significantly lower serum concentration of sCD30 than normal pregnant women. (2) This finding is consistent with the view that preeclampsia and SGA are associated with a polarized Th1 immune response and, perhaps, a reduced Th2 response.
authors.affiliation: Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
authors.forename: Juan Pedro
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Kusanovic
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Romero
authors.forename: Sonia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hassan
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gotsch
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Edwin
authors.forename: Tinnakorn
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chaiworapongsa
authors.forename: Offer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erez
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mittal
authors.forename: Shali
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazaki-Tovi
authors.forename: Eleazar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Nandor Gabor
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Than
authors.forename: Lara A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Friel
authors.forename: Bo Hyun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Jimmy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Espinoza
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age / Q000276:immunology*; D017730:Ki-1 Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011296:Prenatal Diagnosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017730:Ki-1 Antigen