BACKGROUNDBioactive proteins, such as cytokines and chemokines, have not been systematically evaluated in healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies. We aimed to investigate the difference of these proteins between healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies in order to help clarify their potential roles in the pathogenesis of hypertension and proteinuria in preeclampsia.

METHODSSamples of amniotic fluid and maternal/umbilical cord blood were collected from normal pregnancies and women with preeclampsia for examination of bioactive proteins. Fifty-three pregnant women were enrolled in this study. Of them, 30 pregnant women were recruited as healthy controls, and 23 pregnant women were diagnosed with preeclampsia. An antibody array was used to screen for higher levels of cytokines and related proteins in amniotic fluid than in the blood samples, and these proteins were then selected for quantification by immunoassay.

RESULTSInterleukin-1 receptor 4, hepatocyte growth factor, and urokinase plasminogen activator receptor were significantly elevated in the blood of preeclampsia patients. In particular, interleukin-1 receptor 4 was 8-fold higher in preeclampsia patients than in the healthy pregnancies. Moreover, in cord blood samples hepatocyte growth factor and interleukin-8 were significantly higher in preeclampsia patients.

CONCLUSIONSBecause of the biologic activities, Interleukin-1 receptor 4, hepatocyte growth factor, urokinase plasminogen activator receptor and interleukin-8 in maternal and/or cord blood could play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and proteinuria in preeclampsia.

Adult ; Amniotic Fluid ; metabolism ; Chemokines ; analysis ; physiology ; Cytokines ; analysis ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase ; blood ; Pre-Eclampsia ; metabolism ; Pregnancy ; Proteinuria ; etiology

Dominant inflammatory cytokines might be different depending on the underlying causes of acute lung injury (ALI). The role of kertinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), a potent chemoattractant for neutrophils, has not been clearly established in hemorrhage-induced ALI. In this study, lung injury and cytokine expressison were evaluated in LPS- or hemorrhage-induced ALI models of BALB/c mice. The myeloperoxidase activities at 4 hr after hemorrhage and LPS-injection were 47.4+/-13.0 and 56.5+/-16.4 U/g, respectively. NF-kappa B activity peaked at 4 hr after hemorrhage, which was suppressed to the control level by anti-high mobility group B1 (HMGB1) antibody. Lung expressions of TNF-alpha, MIP-2, and IL-1beta were increased by LPS injection. However, there was only a minimal increase in IL-1beta and no expressions of TNF-alpha or MIP-2 in hemorrhage-induced ALI. In contrast, lung KC increased significantly at 4 hr after hemorrhage compared to control levels (83.1+/-12.3 vs. 14.2+/-1.6 pg/mL/mg by ELISA) (P<0.05). By immunohistochemical staining, lung neutrophils stained positive for KC. Increased KC was also observed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and plasma. KC plays an important role in hemorrhage-induced ALI.
Acute Lung Injury/etiology/*metabolism ; Animals ; Antibodies/immunology/metabolism ; Chemokine CXCL2/analysis ; Chemokines/analysis/blood/*physiology ; Chickens ; HMGB1 Protein/metabolism ; Humans ; Interleukin-1beta/analysis ; Lipopolysaccharides/toxicity ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; NF-kappa B/metabolism ; Neutrophils/immunology/metabolism ; Peroxidase/analysis ; Shock, Hemorrhagic/*complications ; Time Factors ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis

We investigated whether the production and gene expression of Gro-alpha and RANTES in Kawasaki disease differ in measles. Forty-two samples from 14 patients in different clinical stages of Kawasaki disease, eight samples from 8 patients in the acute stage of measles and seven samples from 7 healthy children were collected. The present study was performed using ELISA and RT-PCR for the productions and gene expression of the chemokines. The production of Gro-alpha was markedly elevated during the acute stage of measles compared with Kawasaki disease. Moreover, the expression of Gro-alpha was increased in every case of measles, but not in Kawasaki disease. The production of RANTES was elevated in the acute stage of both diseases when compared to the healthy control. However, the plasma RANTES level did not change significantly according to the clinical stages of Kawasaki disease. A correlation between the production and gene expression of RANTES and Gro-alpha was not found in Kawasaki disease. These results suggest that Kawasaki disease differs from measles with regard to Gro-alpha production and expression, but not RANTES. Gro-alpha might play an important role in the acute stage of measles, however not in Kawasaki disease. Further studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of Gro-alpha as a marker in measles.
Biological Markers ; Chemokines/blood/*genetics ; Chemotactic Factors/blood/*genetics ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Comparative Study ; Female ; Gene Expression/immunology ; Human ; Infant ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/blood/*genetics ; Leukocytes, Mononuclear/*physiology ; Male ; Measles/*immunology/physiopathology ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome/*immunology/physiopathology ; RANTES/blood/*genetics ; RNA, Messenger/analysis