The Expressions of Intracellular Cytokines in the Lymphocytes of Preeclamptic Patients

PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to investigate the intracellular expressions of T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cytokines in peripheral blood T lymhocytes and natural killer (NK) cells of patients with preeclampsia and women with uncomplicated pregnancy. METHOD OF STUDY: Blood samples were taken from 20 patients with preeclampsia and 16 healthy pregnant women. Mononuclear cells were isolated from peripheral blood and stimulated for 5 hr at 37 degrees C and 5% CO2. Next, the cells were stained with antibodies against surface markers of T-cell subsets and NK cells. After fixation and permeabilization processes, the cells were stained with antibodies against intracellular cytokines--interleukin-2 (Il-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) as well as Il-10 and Il-4. The intracellular expressions of Th1 and Th2 cytokines were determined using the flow cytometric method. Statistical analysis was performed using Mann-Whitney U-test. RESULTS: We found that in patients with preeclampsia the expressions of Il-2 were significantly higher when compared with women with uncomplicated pregnancy. Furthermore, in the group of patients with preeclampsia the expressions of Il-2 were higher in T CD 8+ lymphocytes than in T CD4+ cells. The expressions of IFN-gamma did not differ in CD4+ cells and CD8+ cells in both studied groups but they were higher in NK cells in the study group. The expressions of Il-10 were lower in lymphocytes of preeclamptic patients when compared with controls. The expressions of Il-4 did not differ in both studied groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that in patients with preeclampsia there is Th1/Th2 imbalance, with predominant Th1 immunity.