Lidia Biesiada

IL-12, IL-6 and IFN-gamma production by lymphocytes of pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis remission during pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease with progressive activity. The RA remission was observed in women during pregnancy, but the mechanism responsible for remission is hypothetical only and concerns mechanisms of immune regulation such as lymphocyte subpopulations and interleukin production. AIMS: The lymphocyte subpopulations and interleukin production in vitro in a group of healthy non-pregnant women, healthy pregnant women and pregnant women suffering from RA may help towards a better understanding of regulation of the immune processes. METHODS: The investigations were performed in trimester III--2 days after delivery and 6 weeks after delivery. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were isolated on Gradisol gradient and analysed immediately or after having been cultured for 72 hours in RPMI medium supplemented with 10% FCS. The cultures were terminated after 72 h, supernatants stored at -72 degrees C for interleukin evaluation. The concentrations of IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-alpha and its soluble receptors R-I, R-II were estimated in non-stimulated and PHA (Sigma, 5 microg/ml) stimulated culture supernatants using ELISA Endogen kits according to the manufacturers instructions. RESULTS: The general pattern of T cell subpopulation distribution was similar in all analysed groups. Decreased IFN-gamma, IL-12 and increased IL-6 production by lymphocytes after PHA stimulation was found in trimester III in pregnant women with RA as compared to healthy pregnant woman. CONCLUSION: The obtained results suggest that in pregnant women with RA the TH1 cell response predominates, contrary to healthy pregnant women with TH2 type functional response. These phenomena were not observed after delivery.

The impact of excessive maternal weight on the nutritional status of the fetus – the role of leptin

Introduction Assessment of leptin concentration in the blood of pregnant women (leptin concentration – Lc) and in their newborns, according to their nutritional status. Material and methods Pregnant women (n = 42) were divided into normal body mass (NBM) and excessive body mass (EBM) groups. Neonates were divided into AGA (eutrophic) and LGA (macrosomic) groups. Leptin concentraction was studied in 4 subgroups: NBM/AGA, NBM/LGA, EBM/AGA, EBM/LGA. Results Mothers: A significant correlation was found between maternal Lc and body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.75, p < 0.001). Maternal Lc was 3 times higher than neonatal Lc (p < 0.00001). The NBM mothers showed lower Lc compared to EBM mothers (p = 0.000018). Leptin concentration values in NBM/LGA and NBM/AGA mothers were similar (p = 0.6775). Newborns: Correlations were found between Lc and ponderal index (PI) (r = 0.67, p < 0.001), weight (r = 0.43, p = 0.004) and placental weight (r = 0.56, p < 0.001). Girls presented higher Lc than boys (p = 0.0338). In LGA groups, newborns born to EBM mothers presented higher Lc than those born to NBM mothers (p = 0.0013). In both AGA groups, Lc was similar (AGA/EBM vs. AGA/NBM p = 0.1619). The highest Lc and the largest placentas were found in the group of LGA newborns born to EBM mothers. Conclusions Leptin concentration positively correlates with BMI in pregnant women, with PI and female sex in newborns as well as with placental weight. The nutritional status of fetuses does not affect the Lc of their non-obese mothers. The LGA neonates born to EBM women demonstrate higher Lc than LGA neonates born to NBM mothers, whereas Lc of AGA neonates is similar regardless of the nutritional status of their mothers.

Association of Maternal and Fetal Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Metalloproteinase (MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, and MMP9) Genes with Preeclampsia

Background Metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a pivotal role during the process of trophoblast invasion and placentation. The appearance of five functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the genes of the metalloproteinases most commonly implicated in the implantation process may influence the development of preeclampsia. Methods Blood samples were collected from 86 mothers and 86 children after preeclampsia and 85 mothers and 85 children with uncomplicated pregnancies. The distribution of genotypes for −1607 1G/2G MMP1, −735 C/T MMP2, −1306 C/T MMP2, −1171 5A/6A MMP3, and −1562C/T MMP9 polymorphisms was determined by RFLP-PCR. Results The occurrence of 1G/1G MMP1 or 5A/5A MMP3 genotype in the mother or 1G/1G MMP1 or 5A/6A MMP3 genotype in the child is associated with preeclampsia development. Moreover, simultaneous maternal and fetal 1G/1G homozygosity increases the risk of preeclampsia development 2.39-fold and the set of maternal 5A/5A and fetal 5A/6A MMP3 genotypes by over 4.5 times. No association between the carriage of studied MMP2 or MMP9 polymorphisms and the predisposition to preeclampsia was found. Conclusion The maternal 1G/1G MMP1 and 5A/5A MMP3 and fetal 1G/1G MMP1 and 5A/6A MMP3 gene polymorphisms may be strong genetic markers of preeclampsia, occurring either individually or together.