Objective: Our purpose was to elucidate the role of adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH).
Methods: Sera, peripheral lymphocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) from PIH patients, normal pregnant women, and nonpregnant women were collected. Soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) in sera was measured by ELISA. ICAM-1 expression on endothelial cells (EC) incubated with sera was analyzed by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. CD11a, CD11b, and CD18 expression on lymphocytes and PMN were also measured by flow cytometory.
Results: CD11a and CD18 expression levels on PMN and lymphocytes of PIH patients were significantly higher than those of normal pregnant women (p<0.05). The expression of CD11b was significantly increased in normal pregnancy compared with that in nonpregnant women (p<0.05). Serum sICAM-1 in PIH patients was higher than that in normal pregnant women (p<0.05). ICAM-1 expression level on EC incubated with PIH serum for 24 hr was significantly higher than that with normal pregnant serum (p<0.0005). ICAM-1 mRNA expression after 12-hr incubation with PIH serum was also significantly increased compared with serum from normal pregnant women (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Adhesion molecules may play an important role in the pathogenesis of PIH.