Regulation of the maternal immune response to the fetal allograft is essential for delivery of a well-developed neonate. Successful pregnancy in allopregnant women also depends upon control of graft rejection mechanisms. Recent data support the view that the same immunosuppressive cytokines contribute to successful pregnancy and transplantation. The potent immunosuppressive cytokine transforming growth factor;1 (TGF-;1) could contribute to the immunoregulation in the mother and neonate. The two key functions of TGF-;1: 1) the inhibition of T-cell immune and inflammatory responses, 2) the role in trophoblast growth and invasion of the uterus, promoted our interest in evaluation the clinical value of assaying maternal serum TGF-;1 level in normal pregnancies and in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia (PE). PE is a human disease of pregnancy characterized by blood pressure, proteinuria and end-organ damage. This study was carried out in 63 pregnant preeclamptic women (40 cases with sever PE and 23 with mild PE), 45 pregnant normotensive, and 30 non pregnant controls. The active form of TGF-;1 in serum from all cases was investigated by the enzyme immunosorbent assay technique. Results were compared with disease severity parameters. Results: Serum concentration of TGF-;1 is highly present in two pregnant groups compared with normal pregnancy. No changes in serum levels of TGF-;1 was found in preeclamptic women and normal pregnancy.
Elevated level of TGF-;1 in two studied pregnant groups support that the TGF-;1 may not have a pathophysiologic role in PE, and could have a role in immunoregulation of the maternal response to the fetal allograft.