Monocytes may play a role in preeclampsia development: Study

Russia: In a recent study published in Scientific Reports, Russian researchers have found a distinctive pattern in the composition of monocytes in preeclampsia patients. 

A pathological condition called preeclampsia may occur in the second half of pregnancy. At the same time, high blood pressure and proteinuria are observed. Such a dangerous complication can lead to long-term consequences for the mother and child, increasing the risk of maternal and perinatal mortality. At the same time, scientists still do not know the causes of this pathology, the features of its course, nor the methods of its treatment.

Monocytes are innate immune cells that first circulate in the bloodstream, settle in tissues, and become macrophages. There are three types of monocytes - classical (CD14++), non-classical (CD16++) and mixed, or transitional, subpopulation.

“Preeclampsia remains the leading cause of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. On average, this complication occurs in 8% of pregnancies. Cells of the monocyte-macrophage system play an important role in maintaining pregnancy because they maintain tolerance to a semi-allogeneic fetus. Monocytes are divided into two main subpopulations: classical and non-classical. It can be assumed that a change in the composition of monocytes can affect those organs where monocytes come from the bloodstream, particularly the placenta. Our goal was to assess what happens to two subpopulations of monocytes in preeclampsia,” Polina Vishnyakova, PhD, Assistant at the Department of Histology, Cytology and Embryology, RUDN University.