Preeclampsia is Associated with a Reduced Interleukin‐10 Production from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells

Abstract

Problem. This study aims to investigate and compare in vitro, immune cell production of the immunosuppresor cytokine interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) between normal pregnancy (NP) and preeclampsia. Methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from age‐matched patients with preeclampsia and women with a NP (n=3/group) and cultured for 48 hr in the absence and presence of the mitogen phytohaemagluttanin (PHA, 1/100). The concentration of IL‐10 and TNF‐α in the culture medium (CM) was measured by ELISA. Results. Stimulated PBMCs associated with preeclampsia had significantly less IL‐10 in the CM compared to NP (347±39, preeclampsia vs. 689±128, NP; p<0.05) but no difference in TNF‐α. There was no significant difference in IL‐10 or TNF‐α concentration in the CM of unstimulated PBMCs between preeclampsia and NP. Conclusions. These findings suggest that under in vitro stimulated conditions preeclampsia is associated with an abnormality characterized by a diminished ability of peripheral immune cells to produce the immunosupressor cytokine interleukin‐10.

• Preeclampsia
• Interleukin‐10
• Tumour necrosis factor‐α
• Peripheral blood mononuclear cells