[Neutrophil activation in pathogenesis of preeclampsia]

To investigate the effect of neutrophil activation on pathogenesis of preeclampsia.

In 22 pregnant women with preeclampsia and 21 normal pregnant women at third trimester, neutrophil activation was examined by flow cytometry to assess the CD11b expression, and the levels of plasma endothelin-1 (ET-1) and serum NO2- were also measured with no-equilibrium radio-immunoassay and with Griess assay respectively.

The expression of neutrophil CD11b was significantly elevated in women with preeclampsia compared with that of normal pregnant women at third trimester [the mean fluorescence index of CD11b were 439.1 +/- 169.1 and 321.2 +/- 166.3 respectively, P < 0.05], the plasma ET-1 level and serum NO2- concentration in preeclampsic women [(61.4 +/- 48.2) ng/L and (20.4 +/- 5.2) mumol/L, respectively] were both significantly increased compared with those in the normal pregnancy women [(29.3 +/- 20.9) ng/L and (15.5 +/- 4.8) mumol/L, respectively], (P < 0.01). The mean fluorescence index of CD11b was significantly correlated with plasma ET-1 level and serum NO2- concentration (r = 0.312 and 0.382, respectively, P < 0.05). But the correlation between the plasma ET-1 level and serum NO2- concentration was not found (r = 0.227, P > 0.05).

The neutrophil CD11b expression is significantly elevated in preeclampsia. The increased neutrophil activation may cause the damage of vascular endothelium and result in compensatory increase of NO release in endothelial cells. It suggests that the neutrophil activation may play a key role in pathogenesis of preeclampsia.