Expression of lipoxin A(4), TNF alpha and IL-1 beta in maternal peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood and placenta, and their significance in pre-eclampsia

摘要

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the expression of lipoxin A(4),TNF alpha and IL-1 beta in maternal peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood and placenta, and to assess their significance in pre-eclampsia. Methods: Ninty pregnant women were divided into three groups: a mild PE group (n=30), a severe PE group (n=30) and a control group (n=30). We measured serum levels of lipoxin A(4), TNF alpha and IL-1 beta using ELISA. Expression levels of lipoxin receptor (FPR2/ALX) mRNA were compared using quantitative RT-PCR. Results: Mean circulating levels of lipoxin A(4), TNF alpha and IL-1 beta in the PE groups were significantly increased compared with matched women in the control group. The ratios of lipoxin A(4)/TNF alpha and of lipoxin A(4)/IL-1 beta in the PE groups were significantly decreased compared with matched women in the control group. No lipoxin A(4) was detected in umbilical cord blood. There was a significant increase in FPR2/ALX mRNA expression in placenta obtained from the PE groups. Conclusions: The level of lipoxin A(4) in maternal peripheral blood may correlate with the expression of FPR2/ALX in placenta. Lipoxin A(4) increased to a lesser degree than either TNF alpha or IL-1 beta with progression of PE. This may be one of the reasons why oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in severe preeclamptic patients are much more serious that in cases of less severe preeclampsia. Moreover, lipoxin A(4) does not have any effect on the fetus through the placenta. We conclude that supplementing with lipoxin A(4) to ensure adequate levels may be a novel method for the treatment of pre-eclampsia without any effects on the fetus.