The role of neutrophils in preeclampsia.

OBJECTIVE

Review of current knowledge about particular neutrophil subsets and their role in preeclampsia.

DESIGN

Review.

SETTING

Institute of Immunology and Microbiology, First Faculty of Medicine Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague.

INTRODUCTION

Preeclampsia represents one of the major complications of pregnancy with high mortality nowadays. Preeclampsia is a multifactorial disease and to this date, there has not been clear disease trigger identified. Throughout preeclampsia development, an increase in pathophysiological inflammatory response is being present. The induction of inflammation leads to higher number of migrating neutrophils. Current studies demonstrate that neutrophils are a rather heterogeneous population. Deregulation of the ratio between immunoregulatory subpopulations, including polymorphonuclear myeloid-derived suppressor cells, and proinflammatory neutrophil subpopulations could contribute to the induction of inflammatory environment at the feto-maternal interface and subsequently could promote development of pregnancy complications, such as preeclampsia.

METHODS AND

RESULTS

In this review, topic of preeclampsia is briefly introduced and a list of distinct neutrophil subsets published in literature is presented.

CONCLUSION

Unravelling the role of abnormal neutrophil subpopulations migrating to the inflammatory environment of preeclamptic placentas and their role in preeclampsia development could help to identify possible therapeutic targets.