Evaluation of inflammatory mediators in the deciduas of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia.
OBJECTIVE
The objective was to evaluate some inflammatory mediators, i.e. cytokines that induce and inhibit nitric oxide (NO) synthase, in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E) compared to clinically normal patients.


METHODS
Placental fragments were collected from 46 pregnant patients, including 30 clinically normal subjects and 16 women with PE/E, and stored in NP40-containing phosphate buffer in a freezer at -70 °C until the time of solubilization. Cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α and IFN-γ were assayed by ELISA and NO was estimated by the Griess reaction after reduction.


RESULTS
Patients with PE/E presented significantly lower placental levels of IL-10 and IL-3 than the control group (p < 0.05). On the other hand, IL-4, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels were similar on the two groups, whereas nitrite/nitrate levels were significantly lower in the PE/E group. A higher inflammatory balance was observed in patients with PE/E compared to normal subjects (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with PE/E present lower levels of Th2 cytokines associated with a pro-inflammatory balance as evaluated by the IL-10/TNF-α ratio, as well as lower nitrite/nitrate levels, than controls.
a Laboratory of Immunology and Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba - MG , Brazil .|b Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE) , Uberaba - MG , Brazil , and.
Alberto Borges
AB
Peixoto
c Department of Obstetrics , Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo (EPM-UNIFESP) , São Paulo - SP , Brazil.
Edward
E
Araujo Júnior
a Laboratory of Immunology and Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba - MG , Brazil .
João Ulisses
JU
Ribeiro
a Laboratory of Immunology and Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba - MG , Brazil .|b Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University of Uberaba (UNIUBE) , Uberaba - MG , Brazil , and.
Denise Bertulucci Rocha
DB
Rodrigues
a Laboratory of Immunology and Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba - MG , Brazil .
Eumênia Costa Cunha
EC
Castro
a Laboratory of Immunology and Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba - MG , Brazil .
Taciana Mara Rodrigues Cunha
TM
Caldas
a Laboratory of Immunology and Discipline of Gynecology and Obstetrics , Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro (UFTM) , Uberaba - MG , Brazil .
Virmondes
V
Rodrigues Júnior
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003656:Decidua / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D046110:Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D058408:Th1-Th2 Balance; D055815:Young Adult
D007378:Interleukins; D009573:Nitrites
Cytokines; eclampsia; hypoxia; nitric oxide; pre-eclampsia; trophoblast