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Serum Cytokines Profile in Iranian Patients with Preeclampsia
Reza Mansouri1, Firoozeh Akbari, Mohammad Vodjgani
1Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Preeclampsia is linked to altered immune responses, with significantly higher levels of certain cytokines like Interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and Interleukin-18 (IL-18) found in affected pregnancies.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Obstetrics
- Perinatology
Background:
- Preeclampsia is a significant cause of maternal and fetal morbidity, associated with preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction.
- Abnormal cytokine levels have been implicated in the pathophysiology of preeclampsia.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify serum cytokine levels in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia during the third trimester.
- Investigate the role of specific cytokines in preeclampsia development.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to measure serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-18, IL-15, IL-4, and IL-10.
- Study included 30 preeclamptic and 30 normal pregnant women in their third trimester.
Main Results:
- Significantly elevated levels of IL-12p70, IL-18, IL-4, IL-15, and IFN-γ were observed in preeclamptic women compared to controls.
- Circulating IL-10 levels did not show a significant difference between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- Findings support the hypothesis of an altered immune response in preeclampsia.
- Cytokine dysregulation, particularly increased IFN-γ, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-18, and IL-4, is suggested in preeclampsia.
Background:
Preeclampsia is a major cause of mortality and morbidity and is also a leading cause of preterm birth and intrauterine growth retardation. Several studies have reported abnormal levels of cytokines in women with preeclampsia.
Objectives:
To detect serum levels of various cytokines in pregnant women with and without preeclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy.
Methods:
Thirty patients with preeclampsia and thirty normal pregnant women were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were taken and serum levels of IFN gamma, IL-12p70, IL-18, IL-15, IL-4 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results:
Preeclamptic women had significantly increased levels of circulating IL-12p70 (p < 0.05), IL-18 (p < 0.001), IL-4 (p < 0.001), IL-15 (p < 0.05) and IFN gamma (p < 0.001). By contrast, circulating levels of IL-10 were not significantly different between the two groups.
Conclusions:
The present study supports the hypothesis of altered immune response in preeclampsia and suggests that dysregulation of cytokine expression occurs in preeclampsia with increased levels of IFN gamma, IL-12p70, IL-15, IL-18 and IL-4.
