Preeclampsia is associated with a reduced interleukin-10 production from peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Problem. This study aims to investigate and compare in vitro, immune cell production of the immunosuppresor cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) and the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) between normal pregnancy (NP) and preeclampsia. Methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were isolated from age-matched patients with preeclampsia and women with a NP (n = 3/ group) and cultured for 48 hr in the absence and presence of the mitogen phytohaemagluttanin (PHA, 1/100). The concentration of IL-10 and TNF-α in the culture medium (CM) was measured by ELISA. Results. Stimulated PBMCs associated with preeclampsia had significantly less IL-10 in the CM compared to NP (347 ± 39, preeclampsia vs. 689 ± 128, NP; p < 0.05) but no difference in TNF-α. There was no significant difference in IL-10 or TNF-α concentration in the CM of unstimulated PBMCs between preeclampsia and NP. Conclusions. These findings suggest that under in vitro stimulated conditions preeclampsia is associated with an abnormality characterized by a diminished ability of peripheral immune cells to produce the immunosupressor cytokine interleukin-10.