Expression of the placental cytokines tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 1β, and interleukin 10 is increased in preeclampsia

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine whether placental cytokine expression is altered in patients with preeclampsia. STUDY DESIGN: Whole placental tissue was collected at cesarean delivery, and total ribonucleic acid was extracted. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine cytokine expression. Product bands were quantitated by scanning densitometry, and results were expressed as a ratio of cytokine/housekeeping gene (cytokine expression index). Statistical analysis was performed by the Student t test and the Mann-Whitney U test. RESULTS: Placentas from 6 patients with preeclampsia and 4 normotensive patients were analyzed. Placental expression of interleukin 1 beta and interleukin 10 was greater in preeclamptic women than in normotensive subjects (median interleukin 1 beta cytokine expression index, 0.675; range, 0.394-0.953; vs 0.106; range, 0.084-0.166; P = .011; median interleukin 10 cytokine expression index, 1.042; range, 0.672-1.192; vs 0.126; range, 0.062-0.398; P < .011). Tumor necrosis factor alpha messenger ribonucleic acid was detected in placentas of preeclamptic subjects but not in normotensive control subjects. CONCLUSION: Placentas from preeclamptic patients demonstrated increased expression of interleukin 1 beta, interleukin 10, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. This may be in association with placental hypoxia and may contribute to the global endothelial dysfunction observed in preeclampsia.