Relation between Plasma Endothelin 1 Levels and T Helper 1: T Helper 2 Cell Immunity in Women with Preeclampsia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between plasma endothelin 1 (ET-1) levels and T helper (Th)-1:Th2 cell immunity in women with preeclampsia. The percentage of Th1 and Th2 cells and the Th1:Th2 cell ratios in peripheral blood from 11 normal pregnant women and 11 patients with preeclampsia at 29–34 weeks of gestation were calculated using flow cytometry. The plasma ET-1 level was also determined using a modified radioimmunoassay. The plasma ET-1 concentrations and the Th1:Th2 cell ratios in normal pregnancies were significantly lower than those in patients with preeclampsia. Negative correlations were found between plasma ET-1 levels and Th2 cells in both the preeclamptic pregnancy groups and in the normal pregnant women. Our results indicate that elevated ET-1 levels are associated with a Th1:Th2 imbalance in preeclampsia.

Proportion of peripheral blood and decidual CD4+ CD25bright regulatory T cells in pre-eclampsia

“…Epidemiological studies suggest that the maladaption of maternal tolerance is present in pre‐eclamptic cases [2–6]. We and other groups have reported that T helper 1 (Th1)‐type immunity, which induces rejection, is predominant in pre‐eclampsia, supporting this hypothesis [25–31]. Recent studies have demonstrated that CD4 + CD25 bright T cells play a central role in the induction and maintenance of tolerance [32], and CD4 + CD25 + T reg cells are essential for the maintenance of allogeneic pregnancy in mice [11,13].…”

Pre‐eclampsia is not Associated with Changes in the Levels of Regulatory T Cells in Peripheral Blood

“…Pre‐eclampsia is characterized by an abnormal activation of the innate and adaptive immune system 5–10 . Recent data demonstrate that up‐regulation of Th1 responses occurs not only in peripheral blood but also at the feto‐maternal interface in pre‐eclamptic patients 11–18 . It is still unclear if this augmented Th1 response is originated by a defective Treg activity, as suggested for spontaneous abortion 4 …”

Cytokine secretion by decidual lymphocytes in transient hypertension of pregnancy and pre‐eclampsia

“…11 The investigations performed during pregnancy complicated with preeclampsia indicated that disturbances of cytokine Th1/Th2 balance are associated with elevated endothelin-1 levels followed by the presence of hypertension. 23 None of the aforementioned studies refered to the autocrine pattern of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance inside maternal decidua in pre-eclampsia and transient hypertension, and their potential role in understanding the local regulatory mechanisms seen in those two syndromes. To clarify this subject, we have focused our attention on comparison between spontaneous and mitogen-stimulated production of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12 and IFNg in cultured lymhocytes isolated from third trimester decidua of healthy pregnant women, pre-eclamptics and those pregnant with transient hypertension.…”