title: CMV infection, TLR-2 and -4 expression, and cytokine profiles in early-onset preeclampsia with HELLP syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was previously reported in pregnancy complications. However, its seroprevalence and associated Toll-like receptor (TLR) expression in early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE) with hemolysis, elevated liver enzyme and low platelets syndrome (HELLPs) are unexplored.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case–control study was performed to examine maternal CMV antibodies, neutrophil Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 and -4 expression as well as the cytokine profile in EOPE with HELLPs (EOPE-HELLPs) (n = 10), late-onset preeclampsia (LOPE) (n = 20), normal pregnancy (n = 60), and non-pregnancy (n = 20) controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EOPE-HELLPs had significantly increased CMV IgG sero-positivity, upregulated TLR-2/-4 mRNA expression, increased serum IL-6 and TNF-α, and reduced IL-10 compared with matched normal and non-pregnancy controls. No significant difference was observed between LOPE and normal pregnancy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We observed a significant association between CMV IgG sero-positivity and innate immune response in EOPE-HELLPs. Our data suggest that CMV infection may be a risk factor for this disorder.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: von Dadelszen
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nadeau
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000097:blood; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000276:immunology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011250:Pregnancy Complications, Hematologic / Q000276:immunology; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D016207:Cytokines; C508609:IL10 protein, human; C508600:IL6 protein, human; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C495342:TLR2 protein, human; C495345:TLR4 protein, human; D051195:Toll-Like Receptor 2; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10