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Normal pregnancy is characterized by systemic activation of the complement system

Cited 134 time in Web of Science Cited 145 time in Scopus
Authors

Richani, Karina; Soto, Eleazar; Romero, Roberto; Espinoza, Jimmy; Chaiworapongsa, Tinnakorn; Nien, Jyh Kae; Edwin, Samuel; Kim, Yeon Mee; Hong, Joon-Seok; Mazor, Moshe

Issue Date
2005-09-09
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
Citation
J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2005 Apr;17(4):239-45.
Keywords
AdolescentAdultAnaphylatoxins/analysis/*immunologyComplement System Proteins/*immunologyCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansImmunity, Innate/immunologyPregnancy/blood/*immunology
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The complement system, a major component of innate immunity, has recently been implicated in the mechanisms of fetal loss and placental inflammation in the anti-phospholipid antibody syndrome. Inhibition of complement has been proposed as an absolute requirement for normal pregnancy. Yet, pregnancy is characterized by a generalized activation of the innate immune system. This study was conducted to determine whether or not normal pregnancy is associated with complement activation in the maternal circulation. METHODS: Anaphylatoxins (C3a, C4a and C5a) were determined in the plasma of normal pregnant (20-42 wks; n=134) and non-pregnant women (n=40). These complement split products (C3a, C4a and C5a) were measured using specific immunoassays. Non-parametric statistics were used for analysis. RESULTS: 1) The median plasma concentrations of C3a, C4a and C5a were significantly higher in normal pregnant women than in non-pregnant women (all p<0.001); 2) the concentration of C3a, C4a and C5a did not change with gestational age (p>0.05); and 3) the median plasma concentration of C3a had a positive correlation with the plasma C4a and C5a concentrations (r=0.36, p<0.001 and r=0.35, p<0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: 1) Normal human pregnancy is associated with evidence of complement activation, as determined by higher concentrations of the anaphylatoxins C3a, C4a and C5a in the maternal circulation; and 2) we propose that physiologic activation of the complement system during pregnancy is a compensatory mechanism aimed at protecting the host against infection.
ISSN
1476-7058 (Print)
Language
English
URI
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&dopt=Citation&list_uids=16147832

https://hdl.handle.net/10371/15625
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1080/14767050500072722
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