Changes in serum levels of leptin, cytokines and lipoprotein in pre-eclamptic and normotensive pregnant women

• Published in: Gynecological endocrinology 2004-11, Vol.19 (5), p.267-273
• Main Authors: Koçy g t, Y, Atamer, Y, Atamer, A, Tuzcu, A, Akkus, Z
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Apolipoprotein A-I - blood; Apolipoproteins B - blood; Body Mass Index; Cholesterol - blood; Cholesterol, HDL - blood; Cholesterol, LDL - blood; Cytokines; Cytokines - blood; Female; Humans; Interleukin-1 - blood; Interleukin-6 - blood; Interleukin-8 - blood; Leptin; Leptin - blood; Lipoproteins; Lipoproteins - blood; Pre-eclampsia; Pre-Eclampsia - blood; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Prospective Studies; Receptors, Interleukin-2 - blood; Receptors, Leptin; Triglycerides - blood; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis; Tumour Necrosis Factor-alpha
• ISSN: 0951-3590; 1473-0766
• DOI: 10.1080/09513590400018108

The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in serum levels of leptin, cytokines and lipoproteins in women with pre-eclampsia and to evaluate their clinical significance in the pathogenesis of pre-eclampsia. We performed a prospective study involving 45 women with pre-eclampsia in the third trimester of pregnancy and 30 normotensive women in the third trimester of pregnancy. Serum level of leptin was measured by enzyme immunoassay using a Cayman chemical kit. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1 , soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), IL-6 and IL-8 were measured by using a non-radioimmunoassay chemiluminescent method. Serum lipid concentrations were measured by an Abbott Aeroset (USA) autoanalyzer. Serum levels of apolipoprotein (Apo)A-I and ApoB were evaluated by nephelometrics assays. Differences between groups were evaluated with Student's unpaired t test and, when a variable was not normally distributed, the Mann-Whitney U test was used. The relationship between the variable was explored by the Pearson correlation test. Serum levels of leptin, TNF-α, IL-1 sIL-2R, IL-6 and IL-8 in the pre-eclamptic women were significantly higher than in normotensive women (p < 0.001). In the pre-eclamptic women serum levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were significantly increased (p < 0.001), while high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol and Apo-A were significantly decreased compared to levels in normotensive pregnant women (p < 0.001). No significant differences were noted between the groups in Apo-B (p > 0.05). Serum levels of TNF-α were significantly correlated with the serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, triglycerides, sIL-2R, Apo-A and hematocrit in pre-eclamptic women (r = 0.418, p < 0.05; r = 0.389, p < 0.01; r = 0.312, p < 0.05; r =-0.318, p < 0.05; r =-0.340, p < 0.05 and r = 0.41, p < 0.01, respectively). A negative correlation was seen between serum level of leptin and both IL-1 and Apo-A in pre-eclamptic women (r =-0.44, p < 0.05; r =-0.39, p < 0.05, respectively). Serum levels of IL-6 were also significantly correlated with the serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and body mass index (BMI) in pre-eclamptic women (r = 0.40, p < 0.01; r =-0.568, p < 0.01; r =-0.30, p < 0.05, respectively). In addition, serum level of IL-8 were significantly correlated with the serum levels of HDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol and BMI in pre-eclamptic women (r = 0.368, p < 0.05; r =