The investigators propose to study a large group of women, including women with pregnancy-induced hypertension that do not progress to preeclampsia as a control group. Longitudinal studies will monitor the occurrence and disappearance of T-cell skewing. They will determine if the hallmarks of a superantigen effect occur in preeclampsia: a) a robust activation of primary T cells; b) MHC class II-dependent response; and c) a TCR Vb-restricted response, in this case, Vb4+ T-cells. Studies will be initiated to define the source of the superantigen by challenging normal T-cells with plasma and syncytiotrophoblast microvillous membrane preparations from preeclamptic patients and monitoring T-cell skewing in vitro.
| Luppi, Patrizia; Deloia, Julie A (2006) Monocytes of preeclamptic women spontaneously synthesize pro-inflammatory cytokines. Clin Immunol 118:268-75 |
| Luppi, Patrizia; Tse, Hubert; Lain, Kristine Y et al. (2006) Preeclampsia activates circulating immune cells with engagement of the NF-kappaB pathway. Am J Reprod Immunol 56:135-44 |
| Luppi, Patrizia; Irwin, Tracy E; Simhan, Hyagriv et al. (2004) CD11b Expression on circulating leukocytes increases in preparation for parturition. Am J Reprod Immunol 52:323-9 |
| Luppi, Patrizia; Haluszczak, Catherine; Betters, Dawn et al. (2002) Monocytes are progressively activated in the circulation of pregnant women. J Leukoc Biol 72:874-84 |
| Luppi, P; Haluszczak, C; Trucco, M et al. (2002) Normal pregnancy is associated with peripheral leukocyte activation. Am J Reprod Immunol 47:72-81 |
