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Lewis DF., Canzoneri BJ., Gu Y, Zhao S, Wang Y. Maternal Levels of Prostacyclin, Thromboxane, ICAM, and VCAM in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 64: 376-383 To evaluate whether impaired endothelial function and endothelial inflammatory response occur in parallel in the women with preeclampsia. Venous blood was drawn from normal ( n = 40) and severe preeclamptic (sPE) ( n = 40) pregnant women when they were admitted to the L&D Unit and 24 hrs after delivery. Plasma and serum samples were extracted and measured for 6-keto PGF1α and TXB (stable metabolites of PGI2 and TXA2), and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM) and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM) by ELISA. Data are analyzed by Mann-Whitney test and paired t-test. The statistical significance is set as P < 0.05. Plasma 6-keto PGF1α levels were significantly reduced at admission and 24 hr after delivery in sPE compared to normal pregnant controls, P < 0.01. The ratio of 6-keto PGF1α and TXB was significant less in sPE than that in normal pregnant controls before delivery. There was no significant difference for ICAM and VCAM levels between normal and patients with sPE before and after delivery. Maternal 6-keto PGF1α levels and the ratio of 6-keto PGF1α and TXB were decreased in patients with sPE compared to normal pregnant controls. In contrast, maternal ICAM and VCAM levels were not different between the two groups. These data suggest that serum ICAM and VCAM levels may not be sensitive inflammatory biomarkers for preeclampsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem Several lines of evidence have shown that maternal cytokine levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were altered in women with pre-eclampsia (PE) compared to those from normal pregnancies. In this study, we determined whether these cytokine levels are correlated before and after delivery in patients with PE. Method of study Venous blood was obtained from 50 women diagnosed with severe PE at the time of admission and 24 hr after delivery. Plasma concentrations for TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 were measured by ELISA. Results There were no statistical differences for maternal levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10 before and 24 hr postpartum. TNF-α and IL-10, but not IL-6 and IL-8, levels were significantly correlated before and 24 hr after delivery: TNF-α: y = 19.963 + 0.953* x; r2 = 0.924; IL-10: y = 10.521 + 1.113* x; r2 = 0.984, P < 0.001, respectively. Furthermore, TNF-α levels were correlated with IL-10 levels, but not with IL-6 and IL-8 levels. Conclusion The correlation patterns of TNF-α with IL-10 and TNF-α with IL-6 and IL-8 suggest disparity in functional regulations between these cytokines in maternal circulation in PE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]