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

We calculated the percentage of Th1, Th2, Th0 cells and the Th1:Th2 cell ra tio of peripheral blood from normal pregnant subjects and preeclampsia pati ents using how cytometry which can analyse both the surface marker, CD4, an d intracellular cytokines, interleukin (IL)-4 and interferon (IFN)-gamma. I n 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, t he percentage of Th1 cells and the ratios of Th1:Th2 in preeclampsia were s ignificantly higher than in normal third trimester pregnant subjects. The p ercentage of Th2 cells in preeclampsia was significantly lower than in thir d trimester of normal pregnancy. Additionally, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from these subjects and patients were cultured with phytohemagglutin in stimulation, and IL-4 and IFN-gamma concentrations were determined in th e supernatant by enzymed linked immunosorbent assays. The percentage of Th1 and Th2, and the ratios of Th1:Th2 were correlated with cytokine (IFN-gamm a and IL-4) secretion level. These results demonstrated that Th2 cells were predominant in the second and third trimesters of normal pregnancy, but Th 1 cells predominated in preeclamptic patients.