title: Serum levels of leptin and IP-10 in preeclampsia compared to controls.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific syndrome with a complex, yet elusive, etiology. The production of a variety of factors probably implicated in diverse pathways may trigger endothelial dysfunction leading to PE pathogenesis. The aim of the present study was to investigate and compare the concentrations of leptin and interferon-gamma-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), factors characterized by inflammatory, immunomodulatory and angiogenic activities, and to evaluate their possible interaction in women with normotensive pregnancy and PE.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on a total of 58 pregnant women, 29 women with PE and 29 controls. Serum leptin and IP-10 levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum leptin levels were significantly increased in women with PE compared to controls and this difference was stronger in women with severe PE (p < 0.001). Although IP-10 serum concentrations were elevated in our preeclamptic women, this difference was not statistically significant. No correlation was found between leptin and IP-10.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study support a significant role of leptin in PE; however, this association was independent from serum IP-10 levels, suggesting that there is no crucial interplay between these two proteins in PE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Princess Royal University Hospital, Orpington, UK.
authors.forename: Michail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalinderis
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Kallirhoe
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kalinderi
authors.forename: Timoleon-Achilleas
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Vyzantiadis
authors.forename: Aliki
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ioakimidou
authors.forename: Basil C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Tarlatzis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10 / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: C114753:CXCL10 protein, human; D054357:Chemokine CXCL10; D020738:Leptin