title: Preeclampsia is Characterized by Fetal NK Cell Activation and a Reduction in Regulatory T Cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Preeclampsia affects 3-17% of pregnancies worldwide and has serious consequences for both the mother and the fetus. As maternal-fetal immune tolerance is bidirectional, fetal immunopathology may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of pregnancy disorders. Nevertheless, the impact of preeclampsia on the fetal immune system is unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study, we examined the phenotype of innate and adaptive immune cells from the cord blood of 3rd trimester babies born to healthy mothers and compared them to cord blood from 3rd trimester babies born to mothers with symptomatic preeclampsia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ratio of CD56hi CD16- non-activated/regulatory NK cells to CD56lo CD16+ activated/effector NK cells as well as the proportion of CD4+ T cells was significantly decreased in the cord blood of babies born to preeclamptic mothers. The percentage of FoxP3+ Treg, especially the FoxP3lo populations (resting Treg and cytokine Treg), were significantly reduced. Importantly, this reduction in FoxP3+ Treg affected the ratio of CD8+ effector T cells per FoxP3+ Treg in the cord blood of babies born to preeclamptic mothers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations indicate that there are significant fetal immune system derangements during preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Andrea I
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Loewendorf
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Tina A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Yesayan
authors.affiliation: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4499-4364
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: fetus; preeclampsia; pregnancy; regulatory T cells