The Role intercellular Cytokines in Prediction of Preeclampsia

Background: Preeclampsia (PE) is a multisystem obstetric complication, accompanied by changes in the immunological status. Immune cells such as regulatory T cells, macrophages, natural killer cells and neutrophils play an important role in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, but the contribution of other immune cells is now also recognized. Therefore, studying the production of cytokines by different cell types will allow the identification of potential biomarkers for the prediction of preeclampsia. Objectives: to investigate the levels of intracellular cytokine production by lymphocytes of peripheral blood in preeclampsia. Methods: 35 pregnant women admitted to labor with physiological pregnancy (28) and with PE (7). The multicolor immunophenotyping with intracellular cytokine production of TNF, GM-CSF, VEGFR-2, and IGF by different immunocompetent cell types were evaluated on a BD FACS CALIBUR flow cytometer. Results: Women with preeclampsia had a significant increase in the level of CD8+GM-CSF+ cells (28.5 ± 3.7 vs. 17.3 ± 1.5 in the control group, p<0.001), and CD56+VEGF2+ (14.2±3.47 vs 0.62±0.55, p<0.001), and CD14+IL-10+ cells (55.7 ± 15.7 vs. 0.89 ± 0.61 in the control group, p<0.001), and level of CD19+IGF+ (12.0 ± 3.99 vs 1.10±0.46 in the control group, p<0.001). In contrast, the content of CD56+TNF+ cells was significantly reduced in the PE group compared to the control group (2.26 ± 1.15 vs. 15.7 ± 1.74, p<0.001). Conclusions: These data will not only expand existing knowledge about the role of intracellular cytokines in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia, but will also help to obtain new markers for predicting preeclampsia.