Maternal Serum Levels of Transforming Growth Factor ß1 (TGF-ß1) in Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies

Abstract

<b>Background</b>: <span><span>Successful pregnancy in allopregnant women depends upon the control</span></span> of graft rejection mechanisms. It has been suggested that some immunosuppressive cytokines contribute to successful pregnancy and transplantation. Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;">β</span></span><span><span>) exhibits potent immunoregulatory and anti-inflammatory</span></span> properties which might prolong graft survival. Recent studies suggest a role for TGF- β <span><span>in the generation of T-regulatory lymphocytes which preserves the tolerance to</span></span> peripheral self antigens and may control the response to allogenic tissues and thereby promote the transplantation tolerance. Also, the function of TGF- <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;">β </span></span><span><span>in trophoblast differentiation</span></span> and hypertension is reported. <span><span><br/><b>Objective</b>: </span></span><span><span>To evaluate the maternal serum</span></span> TGF- <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;">β</span></span><span><span>1 level in normal allopregnant women and in pregnancies complicated by</span></span> preeclampcia (PE). <span><span><br/><b>Methods</b>: </span></span><span><span>Sixty one pregnant preeclamptic women (32 cases with</span></span> severe and 29 with mild PE), 22 normotensive healthy pregnant, and 20 non-pregnant controls constituted the studied groups. The active form of TGF- <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;">β</span></span><span><span>1 in serum from all</span></span> cases was investigated by indirect ELISA technique. <span><span><br/><b>Results</b>: </span></span><span><span>The results showed that</span></span> TGF- <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;">β</span></span><span><span>1 level was higher in all three pregnant groups as compared with the nonpregnant</span></span> controls. No significant changes in serum levels of TGF- <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;">β</span></span><span><span>1 were found in</span></span> PE as compared with the normal pregnancy. <span><span><br/><b>Conclusion</b>: </span></span><span><span>TGF-</span></span><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;">β</span></span><span><span>1 may function as a</span></span> regulatory factor in fetal allograft survival during pregnancy, and TGF- <span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Symbol; font-size: medium;">β</span></span><span><span>1 does not</span></span> have a pathophysiological role in PE.