Plasma and placental levels of interleukin-10, transforming growth factor-β1, and epithelial-cadherin in preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the plasma and placental levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10), transforming growth factor-beta(1) (TGF-beta(1)), and epithelial-cadherin (E-cadherin) in normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies. METHODS: The study population consisted of 33 women with normotensive pregnancy and 35 women with preeclampsia. Peripheral venous blood samples were collected before labor (35.3 +/- 1.1 and 34.2 +/- 3.4 weeks' gestation for normotensive and preeclamptic pregnancies, respectively), and placental tissues were obtained after delivery. Maternal plasma and placental homogenate IL-10, TGF-beta(1), and E-cadherin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The mean plasma and placental levels of IL-10, TGF-beta(1), and E-cadherin were significantly higher in preeclamptic than normotensive patients (P < .001). The plasma and placental levels of IL-10, TGF-beta(1), and E-cadherin significantly increased with the increments in diastolic blood pressure (P < .001), CONCLUSION: IL-10, TGF-beta(1), and E-cadherin may be involved in the pathologic process of preeclampsia. The pathophysiologic changes associated with preeclampsia may stem in part from the overproduction of these placental mediators. (C) 2002 by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.