Evaluation of inflammatory mediators in the deciduas of pregnant women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia

Abstract

Objective: The objective was to evaluate some inflammatory mediators, i.e. cytokines that induce and inhibit nitric oxide (NO) synthase, in pregnant women with pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (PE/E) compared to clinically normal patients.

Methods: Placental fragments were collected from 46 pregnant patients, including 30 clinically normal subjects and 16 women with PE/E, and stored in NP40-containing phosphate buffer in a freezer at −70 °C until the time of solubilization. Cytokines IL-4, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-α and IFN-γ were assayed by ELISA and NO was estimated by the Griess reaction after reduction.

Results: Patients with PE/E presented significantly lower placental levels of IL-10 and IL-3 than the control group (p < 0.05). On the other hand, IL-4, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels were similar on the two groups, whereas nitrite/nitrate levels were significantly lower in the PE/E group. A higher inflammatory balance was observed in patients with PE/E compared to normal subjects (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Patients with PE/E present lower levels of Th2 cytokines associated with a pro-inflammatory balance as evaluated by the IL-10/TNF-α ratio, as well as lower nitrite/nitrate levels, than controls.

• Cytokines
• eclampsia
• hypoxia
• nitric oxide
• pre-eclampsia
• trophoblast

Declaration of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interests.