Interleukin-12 Secretion by Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells is Decreased in Normal Pregnant Subjects and Increased in Preeclamptic Patients

• Published in: American journal of reproductive immunology (1989) 2002-02, Vol.47 (2), p.91-97
• Main Authors: SAKAI, MASATOSHI, TSUDA, HIROSHI, TANEBE, KYOKO, SASAKI, YASUSHI, SAITO, SHIGERU
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Female; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; histocompatibility antigen HLA; HLA-DR Antigens - metabolism; Humans; Interleukin-12; Interleukin-12 - secretion; Leukocytes, Mononuclear - metabolism; Lipopolysaccharide Receptors - metabolism; Medical sciences; monocyte activation; Pre-Eclampsia - metabolism; preeclampsia; pregnancy; Pregnancy - metabolism; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; T-helper (Th)1/Th2; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer - metabolism
• ISSN: 1046-7408; 8755-8920; 1600-0897
• DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0897.2002.1o020.x

PROBLEM:  It has been reported that T‐helper (Th) 2 dominance in normal pregnancy shifts to Th1 dominance in preeclampsia. Peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) production of interleukin (IL)‐12, which induce Th1 responses, has not been compared between these clinical states. METHOD OF STUDY:  Peripheral blood mononuclear cell from 35 non‐pregnant women, 35 healthy pregnant women, 12 mildly preeclamptic patients, and 15 severely preeclamptic patients were cultured for 24 hr. IL‐12 secretion was determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Th1/Th2 ratios in PBMC were determined flow‐cytometrically, and the amounts of HLA‐DR and CD14 expression on the monocytes were obtained by flow cytometry. RESULTS:  Peripheral blood mononuclear cell from healthy pregnant subjects secreted less IL‐12 than non‐pregnant women. PBMC from severely preeclamptic patients secreted more IL‐12 than those from healthy pregnant subjects, while IL‐12 secretion in mild preeclampsia resembled secretion in normal pregnancy. Th1/Th2 ratios correlated were positively with IL‐12. Increased HLA‐DR antigens and reduced CD14 expression, suggesting monocyte activation, were observed in preeclamptic patients, although monocyte counts were unchanged. CONCLUSION:  Decreased IL‐12 secretion by PBMC may cause Th2 dominance in normal pregnancy, while increased IL‐12 secretion by activated monocytes may cause Th1 dominance in preeclampsia.