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. 1999 Sep;117(3):550-5.
doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.1999.00997.x.

Quantitative analysis of peripheral blood Th0, Th1, Th2 and the Th1:Th2 cell ratio during normal human pregnancy and preeclampsia

S Saito  1 , M Sakai, Y Sasaki, K Tanebe, H Tsuda, T Michimata
Affiliations

Quantitative analysis of peripheral blood Th0, Th1, Th2 and the Th1:Th2 cell ratio during normal human pregnancy and preeclampsia

S Saito et al. Clin Exp Immunol. 1999 Sep.

Abstract

We calculated the percentage of Th1, Th2, Th0 cells and the Th1:Th2 cell ratio of peripheral blood from normal pregnant subjects and preeclampsia patients using flow cytometry which can analyse both the surface marker, CD4, and intracellular cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma. In normal pregnancy, the percentage of Th1 cells was significantly lower in the third trimester, and the ratios of Th1:Th2 were significantly lower in the second and third trimester than in nonpregnant subjects. In contrast, the percentage of Th1 cells and the ratios of Th1:Th2 in preeclampsia were significantly higher than in normal third trimester pregnant subjects. The percentage of Th2 cells in preeclampsia was significantly lower than in third trimester of normal pregnancy. Additionally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these subjects and patients were cultured with phytohemagglutinin stimulation, and IL-4 and IFN-gamma concentrations were determined in the supernatant by enzymed linked immunosorbent assays. The percentage of Th1 and Th2, and the ratios of Th1:Th2 were correlated with cytokine (IFN-gamma and IL-4) secretion level. These results demonstrated that Th2 cells were predominant in the second and third trimesters of normal pregnancy, but Th1 cells predominated in preeclamptic patients.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Percentage of Th1, Th2, and Th0 cells in nonpregnant women, normal pregnant women, and preeclamptic patients. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stained with Peridinin chlorophyll protein (PerCP)-conjugated CD4 monoclonal antibody, fluorescein-isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated anti IFN-γ monoclonal antibody and PE-conjugated anti-interleukin (IL)-4 monoclonal antibody, as described in Materials and Methods. A gate was set on the CD4+ lymphocytes by characteristic forward and side scatter parameters (R1 and R2). The FITC (anti-interferon (IFN)-γ) and PE (anti-IL-4) fluorescence data were analysed. Isotype muched fluorochrome-conjugated IgG1 and IgG2a were used as control. The horizontal bar shows FITC fluorescence and the vertical bar shows PE fluorescence. Fluorescence intensity is determined on a logarithmic scale.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Percentage of Th1, Th2 and Th0 cells, and Th1:Th2 cell ratio in nonpregnant women, normal pregnant women, postpartum women, and preeclamptic patients. The data were analysed by anova and Fisher's protected least significant difference.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Th1:Th2 cell ratio in nonpregnant women, normal pregnant women, postpartum women, and preeclamptic patients. The data were analysed by anova and Fisher's protected least significant difference.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Correlation between percentage of Th1 cells and interferon (IFN)-γ concentrations in culture supernatant, percentage of Th2 cells and interleukin (IL)-4 concentrations, and the ratios of Th1:Th2 and the ratios of IFN-γ concentration/IL-4 concentration in nonpregnant women, normal pregnant women, postpartum women, and preeclamptic patients. The data were analysed by Fisher's Z-transformation test.
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