Association between Adverse Maternal Clinical Outcomes and Imbalance of Cytokines and Angiogenic Factors in Preterm Preeclampsia

• Published in: Revista Brasileira de ginecologia e obstetrícia 2021-09, Vol.43 (9), p.669-675
• Main Authors: Nunes, Priscila Rezeck, Romao-Veiga, Mariana, Borges, Vera Therezinha Medeiros, Matias, Mariana Leticia, Ribeiro, Vanessa Rocha, Costa, Roberto Antonio Araujo, Peracoli, Maria Terezinha Serrao, Peracoli, Jose Carlos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; angiogenic factors; Antigens, CD; Biomarkers; clinical adverse outcomes; Cytokines; Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; OBSTETRICS & GYNECOLOGY; Original; Placenta Growth Factor; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; preterm preeclampsia; Receptors, Cell Surface; term preeclampsia; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
• ISSN: 0100-7203; 1806-9339; 1806-9339
• DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1735157

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific syndrome characterized by abnormal levels of cytokines and angiogenic factors, playing a role in the disease development. The present study evaluated whether immunological markers are associated with the gestational age and with the disease severity in preeclamptic women.  Ninety-five women who developed PE were stratified for gestational age as preterm PE (< 37 weeks) and term PE (≥ 37 weeks of gestation) and compared for disease severity as well as plasma concentration of angiogenic factors and cytokines. The concentrations of placental growth factor (PlGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Fms-like soluble tyrosine kinase (sFlt-1) and soluble endoglin (sEng), as well as the cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 10 (IL-10), were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).  The comparison between preeclamptic groups showed a higher percentage of severe cases in preterm PE (82.1%) than in term PE (35.9%). Similarly, the concentrations of TNF-α, sFlt-1, and sEng, as well as TNF-α/IL-10 and sFlt-1/PlGF ratios were significantly higher in the preterm PE group. In contrast, concentrations of PlGF, VEGF, and IL-10 were significantly lower in women with preterm PE. Negative correlations between TNF-α and IL-10 (r = 0.5232) and between PlGF and sFlt1 (r = -0.4158) were detected in the preterm PE.  In pregnant women with preterm PE, there is an imbalance between immunological markers, with the predominance of anti-angiogenic factors and TNF-α, associated with adverse maternal clinical outcomes.