Obesity Correlates with Chronic Inflammation of the Innate Immune System in Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome During Pregnancy

Overview

Journal Biomedicines

Specialty Biomedical Engineering

Date 2023 Oct 28

PMID 37893224

Authors

Julia Rimboeck

Michael Gruber

Marco Weigl

Pia Huber

Dirk Lunz

Walter Petermichl

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

HELLP syndrome is characterized by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and a low platelet count and poses an increased risk to the pregnant woman and the unborn child. Individual risk factors such as obesity may alter immunocompetence and influence the course of preeclampsia (PE) or HELLP syndrome. Blood samples were collected from 21 pregnant women (7 healthy, 6 with PE, and 8 with HELLP syndrome) and polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) were subsequently isolated. Production of radical oxygen species (ROS), cell movement, and NETosis were assessed by live-cell imaging. Surface protein expression and oxidative burst were analyzed by flow cytometry. PE and HELLP patients had significantly higher BMI compared to the healthy control group. Depending on the expression of CD11b, CD62L, and CD66b on PMNs, a surface protein activation sum scale (SPASS) was calculated. PMNs from patients with high SPASS values showed prolonged and more targeted migration with delayed ROS production and NETosis. Obesity is associated with a chronic inflammatory state, which in combination with immunological triggers during pregnancy could modulate PMN functions. Pregnant women with higher BMI tend to have higher SPASS values, indicating activation of the innate immune system that could co-trigger PE or HELLP syndrome.

Citing Articles

Cellular Response of Immune Cells in the Upper Respiratory Tract After Treatment with Cold Atmospheric Plasma In Vitro.

Reichold L, Gruber M, Unger P, Maisch T, Lindner R, Gebhardt L Int J Mol Sci. 2025; 26(1.

PMID: 39796119 PMC: 11720187. DOI: 10.3390/ijms26010255.

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