title: Serum leptin levels in relation to circulating cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules and angiogenic factors in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we determined circulating levels of C-reactive protein, several cytokines, chemokines, adhesion molecules and angiogenic factors along with those of leptin in healthy non-pregnant and pregnant women and preeclamptic patients, and investigated whether serum leptin levels were related to the clinical characteristics and measured laboratory parameters of the study participants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty preeclamptic patients, 60 healthy pregnant women and 59 healthy non-pregnant women were involved in this case-control study. Levels of leptin and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in maternal sera were assessed by ELISA. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-18, interferon (IFN)-gamma, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interferon-gamma-inducible protein (IP)-10, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 were determined by multiplex suspension array. Serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations were measured by an autoanalyzer. Serum total soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) and biologically active placental growth factor (PlGF) levels were determined by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. For statistical analyses, non-parametric methods were applied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were significant differences in most of the measured laboratory parameters among the three study groups except for serum IL-1beta and TGF-beta1 levels. Serum leptin levels were significantly higher in preeclamptic patients and healthy pregnant women than in healthy non-pregnant women. Additionally, preeclamptic patients had significantly higher leptin levels as compared to healthy pregnant women. Serum leptin levels were independently associated with BMI in healthy non-pregnant women. In healthy pregnant women, both BMI and serum CRP concentrations showed significant positive linear association with leptin levels. There were significant positive correlations between serum leptin concentrations of healthy pregnant women and systolic blood pressure, as well as serum levels of IP-10, while their serum leptin levels correlated inversely with fetal birth weight. In preeclamptic patients, a significant positive correlation was observed between serum concentrations of leptin and IP-10. Furthermore, elevated serum leptin level and sFlt-1/PlGF ratio had an additive (joint) effect in the risk of preeclampsia, as shown by the substantially higher odds ratios of their combination than of either alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Simultaneous measurement of leptin with several inflammatory molecules and angiogenic factors in this study enabled us to investigate their relationship, which can help to understand the role of circulating leptin in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia.
authors: First Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary. molvarec@freemail.hu
authors: Attila
authors: A
authors: Molvarec
authors: András
authors: A
authors: Szarka
authors: Szilvia
authors: S
authors: Walentin
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Beko
authors: István
authors: I
authors: Karádi
authors: Zoltán
authors: Z
authors: Prohászka
authors: János
authors: J
authors: Rigó
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D042501:Angiogenic Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001724:Birth Weight; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000097:blood*; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood; D018925:Chemokines / Q000097:blood; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D042501:Angiogenic Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D018925:Chemokines; D016207:Cytokines; D020738:Leptin; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C501162:FLT1 protein, human; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1