Preeclampsia and co-stimulatory molecule CD28: preliminary study

• Grant number: 10/12327-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2010
• End date: September 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Silvia Daher
• Grantee: Gabriela da Paz Silveira
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Preeclampsia (PE), a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria, is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Abnormalities in fetal tolerance mechanisms and increased inflammatory response are among the many factors involved in the pathophysiology of PE. Several cellular populations seem to be involved in this process, including CD4+CD28- T cells. Co-stimulatory molecule CD28 appears to play a signficant role in the complex network that modulates materno-fetal interaction. The production of this molecule is controlled by a gene that may present polymorphic variants. Although the functional consequences of these polymorphisms are not yet completely understood, there are indications that these polymorphisms may affect inflammatory response or immune tolerance mechanisms and thus modify a woman´s susceptibility to PE. In this context, our objective was to perform a pilot study to quantify CD4+CD28- T cell subpopulations in pregnancies with PE. We also intend to assess the relationship between the gene that codifies for CD28 and the occurrence of PE.