Locomotion of Human Neutrophils in Response to Plasma and Serum of Women with Preeclampsia

Abstract

Objective: To examine whether the previously reported neutrophil activation which occurs in the maternal circulation of women with preeclampsia is due to a factor(s) in plasma/serum which increases neutrophil locomotion.Methods: The locomotory responses of human neutrophils to plasma/serum of women with preeclampsia were compared with normal, pregnant women matched for maternal age and gestational age at blood sampling. Twelve patients from each group were studied. Preeclampsia was defined as persistent diastolic blood pressure > 90 mm Hg, with proteinuria > 0.3 g/24 h, in patients who were normotensive before 20 weeks gestation. A simple microcomputer-based system for real-time, analysis of neutrophil behavior in vitro was used to measure the dynamic parameters of locomotion. Locomotion of human neutrophils in response to plasma, serum (20%), and heat-inactivated serum from both groups of patients was measured. Serum was heat inactivated to destroy complement-derived chemotactic activity.Main Outcome Mea...