title: Flow cytometric investigation of CD40-CD40 ligand system in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy.
abstract: Our aim was to investigate the CD40-CD40 ligand system in preeclamptic women. We also studied CD62P and platelet-monocyte aggregates, which have been closely linked to the CD40-CD40L system. Platelet expression of CD40L and CD62P and expression of CD40 on monocytes and platelet-monocyte aggregates were determined by flow cytometry in whole blood from 23 preeclamptic women, 23 normotensive pregnant women, and 23 nonpregnant women. The preeclamptic women showed a significant increase in CD40L and CD62P on platelets and in CD40 on monocytes when compared with normotensive pregnant women and nonpregnant women (all P < .001). There was a significant increase in platelet-monocyte aggregates in preeclamptic women (P < .001) and normotensive pregnant women (P = .003) compared with nonpregnant women. Preeclampsia is associated with activation of the CD40-CD40L system. The activation of this system may contribute to the development or maintenance of the proinflammatory and prothrombotic milieu found in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Laboratory, University Hospital, Pleven, Bulgaria. Bulgarialukanovtz@abv.bg
authors.forename: Tzvetan Hristoforov
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Lukanov
authors.forename: Svetla Ivanova
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Bojinova
authors.forename: Vanya Slavcheva
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Popova
authors.forename: Alkan Levha
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Emin
authors.forename: Galina Lubomirova
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Veleva
authors.forename: Svetla Penkova
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Gecheva
authors.forename: Emiliana Ilieva
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Konova
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000737:chemistry*; D019013:CD40 Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D023201:CD40 Ligand / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002449:Cell Aggregation; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D009000:Monocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D019007:P-Selectin / Q000097:blood; D015539:Platelet Activation; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000209:etiology; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019013:CD40 Antigens; D019007:P-Selectin; D023201:CD40 Ligand