Circulating angiogenic factors during periovulation and the luteal phase of normal menstrual cycles.

OBJECTIVE: To measure serial serum concentrations of the angiogenic factors vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and angiogenin (ANG) in the periovulatory and secretory phase of normal menstrual cycles in healthy women and to determine their peaks, which might reflect the stage of their critical angiogenic action. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: University departments of obstetrics and gynecology. PARTICIPANT(S): Thirty-three healthy Swedish women with regular menstrual cycles. INTERVENTION(S): Serial blood samples were collected from each woman. Luteinizing hormone surge was identified by testing morning urine. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Circulating levels of VEGF, bFGF, and ANG. RESULT(S): Circulating peak concentrations were determined for VEGF on day 0 and 9 after ovulation, for bFGF on day 1 before ovulation and day 9 after ovulation, and for ANG on day 3 after ovulation. CONCLUSION(S): Circulating VEGF increased in a stage-dependent cyclic fashion. Basic FGF peaked during the late proliferative and mid secretory phase. Circulating ANG showed increased expression around the early secretory phase of the cycle.

Chemokines Rantes and interleukin-8 in the perinatal period: changes in serum concentrations.

Chemokines, a superfamily of polypeptide mediators, are a key component of immune surveillance and are implicated in the initiation of the inflammatory cascade. This study investigated whether serum concentrations of the chemokines regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and presumably secreted (RANTES) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) change in the perinatal period because of the transition from intra- to extrauterine life, and compared determined values in mothers (MS) (n = 30) with those in their fetuses (UC), neonates (day of life 1 [N1] and 4 [N4]), and controls (CS) (n = 20). RANTES serum concentrations were higher in MS than in UC ( p < 0.006), N1 ( p < 0.0001), N4 ( p < 0.0001), and CS ( p < 0.0001). IL-8 serum concentrations in MS and UC, respectively, were significantly lower than in N1 ( p < 0.0002 and p < 0.0007) and N4 ( p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001). Thus, after birth, neonatal serum concentrations of RANTES decrease, possibly because of elimination of the placenta (probable production site), and neonatal serum concentrations of IL-8 increase, possibly triggered by environmental antigenic stimuli to which the neonate is exposed.

Concentrations of soluble Fas in maternal serum and amniotic fluid during uncomplicated pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE: To determine, during normal pregnancy, maternal serum (MS) and amniotic fluid (AF) concentrations of soluble Fas (sFas), an apoptosis-suppressing molecule that might play a role in the apoptotic process. Soluble Fas levels might explain existing immunotolerance, fetal well being, and rupture of membranes at term. METHODS: Sixty-six healthy, nonsmoking, pregnant women (mean age 32.6 +/- 4.8 years) with uncomplicated singleton pregnancies (15 in the first trimester, 30 in the second trimester, and 21 at term vaginal delivery) and 20 healthy nonpregnant women (mean age 32.5 +/- 3.8 years) were included in the study. RESULTS: MS and AF sFas concentrations were measured by a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and parametric tests were used in the statistical analysis.MS and AF sFas concentrations significantly depended on gestational age (P < .0008 and P < .0002, respectively). MS concentrations were significantly lower in the first trimester than those in the second trimester (P <.003), those at term (P < .03), and those in nonpregnant controls (P < .005). AF concentrations decreased significantly at term compared with those in the second trimester (P < .0003). AF sFas concentrations in the second trimester and at term were significantly lower than respective MS concentrations (P < .00001). CONCLUSION: MS sFas concentrations decreased significantly in the first trimester of pregnancy, possibly affecting semiallograft tolerance. In the second trimester, concentrations return to control levels and remain unchanged until delivery. AF sFas concentrations decrease at term compared with the second trimester, possibly indicating increased apoptosis in preparation for rupture of membranes.

Adhesion molecules expression in the placental bed of pregnancies with pre-eclampsia.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) and E-selectin in placental bed biopsies (endothelium of spiral arteries as well as trophoblastic cells) from normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies. DESIGN: A prospective study. SETTING: 1. First Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Alexandra Hospital, University of Athens, Greece. 2. Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Laikon Hospital, University of Athens. POPULATION: Sixteen placental bed biopsies from women with pre-eclampsia were compared with 20 placental bed biopsies from uncomplicated normotensive women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Immunocytochemical staining of the placental bed biopsies for ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1 and E-selectin. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found in the expression of the adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1 and E-selectin in the endothelium of the spiral arteries and the trophoblastic cells of the placental bed of the two studied groups. CONCLUSIONS: Adhesion molecules ICAM-1, VCAM-1, PECAM-1, but not E-selectin, are expressed in the placental bed of normal and pre-eclamptic pregnancies, but there are no differences between the two groups of women. It seems that the above molecules are not likely to be implicated in the aetiology of pre-eclampsia.