Functional Changes of Human Peripheral B-Lymphocytes in Pre-Eclampsia |
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Authors: | Ai-Hua Liao Li-Ping Liu Wen-Ping Ding Ling Zhang |
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Institution: | Family Planning Research Institute, Center of Reproductive Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China |
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Abstract: | Problem The aim of our study was to investigate the functional changes of human peripheral B-lymphocytes in healthy and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Method of study Twenty patients with pre-eclampsia and 15 healthy third-trimester pregnant women were recruited in this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and directly stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled anti-CD27 monoclonal antibody (mAb) and phycoerythrin (PE)-labeled anti-CD38 mAb. The percentages of the individual B-cell subsets were estimated out of total lymphocytes by flow cytometric analysis. Additionally, the enriched PBMCs were cultured with or without the stimulation of pokeweed mitogen (PWM) for 5 days. Then morphologic observation of plasma cells was analysed by Wright-Giemsa stain, and antibody-producing cells were detected by enzyme-linked immunospot assay. Results The percentage of CD27?CD38? naïve B-cells and CD27?CD38+ plasma cells did not differ between study groups ( P > 0.05). The percentage of CD27+CD38? memory B-cells and CD27+CD38+ plasma cell pre-cursors increased in pre-eclamptic women compared with the controls ( P < 0.05). Irrespective of whether the PBMCs were stimulated with or w/o PWM in vitro , the mean percentages of generated plasma cells were significantly higher in pre-eclamptic group than in the controls ( P < 0.05). There were more antibody-producing cells in pre-eclamptic women following the activation of PWM than those in the controls ( P < 0.01). Conclusion Our findings implicate that the functional changes of human circulating B-cells might contribute to the etiology of pre-eclampsia. |
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Keywords: | B lymphocytes pokeweed mitogen pre-eclampsia pregnancy |
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