Expansion of the fraction of Th1 cells in women with preeclampsia: Inversecorrelation between the percentage of Th1 cells and the plasma level of PAI-2

PROBLEM: The fractions of Th1 cells and Tc1 cells may be increased in preec lamptic women compared with healthy pregnant women. METHOD OF STUDY: Eleven healthy non-pregnant women, nine healthy pregnant w omen (34.1 +/- 3.1 weeks of gestation), and 10 women with preeclampsia (32. 0 +/- 5.4 weeks) were studied. The fractions of Th1 cells, Th2 cells, Tc1 c ells, and Tc2 cells in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells were determin ed using a three-color flow cytometric technique. The concentrations of pla sma plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) were simultaneously determine d. RESULTS: The fraction of Th1 cells was significantly larger in women with p reeclampsia (18.7 +/- 5.2%) than in normal pregnant women (11.0 +/- 5.7%), and it increased with a decrease in the PAI-2 level (r = - 0.706, P = 0.002 ), which was significantly lower in preeclamptic women (83.4 +/- 46.8 ng/mL ) than in normal pregnant women (225.3 +/- 82.0 ng/mL). The fraction of Tc1 cells increased with increases in the fraction of Th1 cells (r = 0.657, P < 0.001) and the ratio of Th1-to-Th2 cells (r = 0.535, P = 0.002). The rati o of Tc1-to-Tc2 cells also increased with an increase in the ratio of Th1-t o-Th2 cells (r = 0.394, P = 0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The fraction of Th1 cells appears to be expanded in women with preeclampsia compared with healthy pregnant women.