Assessment of Differential Serum Cytotoxicity in Gestational Hypertension using a Fibrosarcoma Cell Line and the Mtt Assay

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether differences in maternal serum cytotoxicity could be detected in different severities of gestational hypertension using a tumor necrosis factor sensitive cell line.

Study Design: Serum was collected from 29 women with clinical signs or symptoms of gestational hypertension: 14 with severe preeclampsia (PET); 9 with pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH); 6 with only elevated fibronectin and/or uric acid levels. Sera from 7 women at similar gestational age without any clinical signs of gestational hypertension were used as the normotensive controls. Maternal serum cytotoxic index [(1.0 – %FBS control) × 100] was assessed using the MTT assay in the L929 fibrosarcoma cell line. Differences in cytotoxic index and clinical parameters between groups were measured by ANOVA, and parameter relationships were examined by regression analysis.

Results: Differences in cytotoxic index were detected between normotensive women (41.9 ± 6) and preeclamptics (65 ± 4.2), P < 0.004. Cytotoxic indices of the other groups were not different, P > 0.05. Cytotoxic index was related to diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.05) and weeks amenorrhea at delivery (P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Assay of maternal serum cytotoxic effect in a tumor necrosis factor sensitive cell line allows differentiation between normal pregnant women and women with preeclampsia. These data also provide evidence that tumor necrosis factor a biologic effects may be elevated during preeclamptic pregnancy.

Key Words:

• Pre-eclampsia
• Serum cytotoxicity
• TNFα
• MTT assay
• L929 cells