concanavalin-a and Pre-Eclampsia

The purpose of this study was to assess whether any changes occur in the cellular immunity in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancy. T lymphocyte subpopulations and the lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogens (PHA, Con A, PWM) in the fetal calf serum were examined in normal pregnant and pre-eclamptic primiparas in the third trimester of pregnancy. In normal pregnancy the absolute and percentage numbers of CD3+ and CD4+ T cells were significantly lower and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio almost halved, in comparison with non-pregnant subjects. In the pre-eclamptic women a decreased absolute and percentage content of CD8+ T cells and increased percentage of CD3+ and CD4+ lymphocytes were found--in comparison with the normal pregnant women--which led to an almost 2.5-fold increase of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio. No disorders were found in the lymphocyte proliferative responses to mitogens in either normal or pre-eclamptic pregnancy. We conclude that despite the shifts among T lymphocyte subsets, mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation presents its functional stability and unchanged reactivity in normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancy.

Topics: CD3 Complex; CD4-CD8 Ratio; CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Activation; Phytohemagglutinins; Pokeweed Mitogens; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; T-Lymphocyte Subsets

This study investigates the physicochemical characteristics of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) in gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), with special reference to the clinical course of chemotherapy and prognosis. In gel high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the hCG molecules from normal pregnancy and from the hydatidiform mole had the same molecular form as standard purified hCG, whereas hCG from choriocarcinoma was inconsistent in molecular form, containing molecules which are smaller, the same or larger than those of standard purified hCG. In two fatal choriocarcinoma patients, large hCG and large hCG alpha were found in the urine samples collected within one month prior to death. In a chromatofocusing study, the chromatofocusing pattern of hCG from GTD was acidic and similar to that of early pregnancy. The chromatofocusing patterns did not alter or were altered only slightly during the course of chemotherapy. In a Concanavalin A-Sepharose (Con A) chromatography study, the Con A binding shifted from low to high binding in patients with GTD who were responsive to chemotherapy. In summary, the molecular form, electric charge and Con A binding of hydatidiform mole hCG are similar to those of early pregnancy hCG and standard purified hCG, whereas the molecular form and Con A binding of choriocarcinoma are different from those of early pregnancy hCG and standard purified hCG. The presence of smaller or larger molecular forms of hCG may be an ominous sign, whereas the presence of high Con A binding may be a favorable sign. The chromatofocusing pattern seems to be unrelated to the clinical course of chemotherapy.

Topics: Choriocarcinoma; Chorionic Gonadotropin; Chromatography, Agarose; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Concanavalin A; Female; Glycopeptides; Glycosylation; Humans; Hydatidiform Mole; Isoelectric Focusing; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Prognosis; Trophoblastic Neoplasms; Uterine Neoplasms

The in vitro responses of maternal lymphocytes to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (Con A) and purified protein derivative of tuberculin (PPD) were determined in uncomplicated and pre-eclamptic pregnancies and nongravid female controls. PHA, Con A and PPD responses were significantly lower in both pregnant groups compared to nongravid controls. No difference was observed in lymphocyte reactivity between women with pre-eclampsia or uncomplicated pregnancy. Both pregnant groups exhibited normal numbers of circulating T and B lymphocytes. The number of active E rosette-forming cells was significantly higher in peripheral blood of pre-eclamptic patients.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Immunity, Cellular; Leukocyte Count; Lymphocyte Activation; Lymphocytes; Phytohemagglutinins; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy; Rosette Formation; Tuberculin

The circulating immune complexes in pregnancy sera have been thought to act immunosuppressively to maternal lymphoid system, and to be one of the cause of toxemia of pregnancy. We detected circulating immune complexes in human pregnancy sera using Raji cell test and polyethylene glycol precipitation. We evaluated the correlation between the titers of immune complexes and inhibition rate of lymphocyte blastogenic responses to PHA as well as Con A. There were significant positive correlation (p less than 0.01, p less than 0.02, respectively). Moreover, we also evaluate the correlation between immune complexes and clinical symptoms of toxemia of pregnancy in items of Gestosis Index. There was no significant correlation at the time of sampling, but highly significant correlation was obtained at the time of admission for labor. The differences of Gestosis Indexes at the time of blood sampling and admission for labor were highly significant in the group of high immune complex titer. The cases of toxemia of pregnancy were found that immune complex increased before the symptoms of toxemia of pregnancy appeared. These results suggest that circulating immune complexes in pregnancy have the role of immunosuppression and act as one of the cause of toxemia of pregnancy.

Topics: Antigen-Antibody Complex; Concanavalin A; Female; Humans; Lymphocyte Activation; Phytohemagglutinins; Polyethylene Glycols; Pre-Eclampsia; Pregnancy