Vascular endothelial growth factor affects dendritic cell activity in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) activity is involved in the growth and stability of the placenta, and its signaling has been implicated in the development of pregnancy‑induced hypertension (PIH). The present study sought to evaluate VEGF levels and dendritic cell (DC) profiles in patients with PIH, and to investigate the effects of VEGF expression on DC phenotypes. The present study assessed 162 patients, 112 of whom were diagnosed with PIH. Serum VEGF was measured by ELISA, while myeloid DC (mDC; (Lin1‑HLA‑DR+CD11c+) and plasmacytoid DC (pDC; Lin1‑HLA‑DR+CD123+) counts were determined using flow cytometry. In order to determine the effect of VEGF treatment on DC phenotypes, immature DCs (iDCs) were separated from monocytes by culturing in the presence of cytokines (GM‑CSF, IL‑4), and then pretreated with VEGF or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The phenotype of dendritic cells (CD14, CD80, CD83, or CD86) was determined by flow cytometry. The levels of VEGF in the serum of patients with PIH were significantly lower than those in control subjects (P<0.05). The percentage of pDCs found in the serum of patients with preeclampsia was significantly lower than that in the other groups. The percentage of mDCs in the serum of patients with preeclampsia and eclampsia was significantly higher than that in the control and hypertensive disorder groups (P<0.05). The percentage of mDCs was significantly negatively correlated with the levels of VEGF in the preeclamptic and eclamptic patients (r=‑0.34 and r=‑0.42, respectively; P<0.05). Detected levels of CD80, CD83 and CD86 in DCs treated with VEGF were significant lower than those in DCs treated with LPS alone (P<0.05). In conclusion, abnormal expression of VEGF and an altered dendritic cell profile may be involved in the development of PIH.