Circulating levels of natural killer T cells and EPC cells in pre-eclamptic pregnant women

Publication date: January 2017 Source:Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Women's Cardiovascular Health, Volume 7 Author(s): F. Basile, A. Santamaria, L. Rizzo, G. Zoccali, D. Giordano, S. Loddo, R. D’Anna Natural killer T cells are bone marrow origin, they represent about 70% of decidua leukocytes and play an important role in the remodeling of spiral arteries [1]. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) are bone-marrow derived cells able to differentiate into endothelial cells [2]. During stress conditions (burns, wounds, coronary artery bypass) a mobilization of these cells from bone-marrow in repairing wounds and during pregnancy occurs [3]. The aim of our study was to evaluate the circulating levels of NK lymphocytes and circulating EPC cells in women with overt preeclampsia. Our study population consists of 39 women in the third trimester of gestation. The patients were divided into two groups: group A with 13 women affected by pre-eclampsia diagnosed according to the criteria established by AIPE 2013 guidelines, and a group B composed of 26 patients with normal pregnancy. Of these women, EPC cells (CD34+) and NK lymphocytes (CD+) circulating were assayed by flow cytometry [4]. A significant difference between groups was observed, either in EPC values (group A: 1.61±0:29 vs group B: 2.42±0.45 cells per μL, p <0.001), or in NK lymphocytes (group A: 16.08±5.22 vs group B: 7.65±2.54 cells per μL, p <0.001). Altered remodeling proce...
Source: Pregnancy Hypertension: An International Journal of Womens Cardiovascular Health - Category: OBGYN Source Type: research