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Preeclampsia pp 85–101Cite as

Inflammatory and Immune System Markers

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1710))

Abstract

Since preeclampsia was first described by Hippocrates in 400 BC, the theory of its causation has shifted from toxins to a current theory that incorporates both vascular and immunological causation. Poor placentation whether it is genetically predisposed or due to low expression of defective HLA-G on fetal trophoblasts is believed to be the initial insult. Oxidative stress from placental ischemia/hypoxia leads to an overload of trophoblast debris by stimulating apoptosis or necrosis. Partial failure of the maternal immune system to tolerate the paternal alloantigens activates maternal immune cells to secrete cytokines whose pleiotropic functions lead to dysfunction of the maternal vascular and placental endothelium, blood coagulation, and fibrinolytic system. This chapter describes some of the key methodologies (flow cytometry, ELISAs, and multiplex immunoassays) for the identification and quantification of inflammation and immune system markers in the study of preeclampsia pathogenesis, as well as diagnostic and therapeutic development. The methodologies may be utilized for a variety of tissue sources in the study of preeclampsia: maternal peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood, intervillous blood, decidua, chorionic villous, amnion and chorion membranes, and cell culture supernatant.

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Acknowledgments

Kelly J. McKelvey’s work is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australia (CIA Jonathan M. Morris, grant number GNT1066606, 2014); Gaayathri Ariyakumar by Albert S. McKern Research Scholarship; and Sharon A. McCracken’s by Ramsay Health Care, Australia.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Perinatal Medicine, Kolling Institute, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Pacific Highway, St. Leonards, 2065, NSW, Australia

    Kelly J. McKelvey, Gaayathri Ariyakumar & Sharon A. McCracken

  2. Sydney Medical School Northern, University of Sydney, St. Leonards, 2065, NSW, Australia

    Kelly J. McKelvey, Gaayathri Ariyakumar & Sharon A. McCracken

Authors
  1. Kelly J. McKelvey
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  2. Gaayathri Ariyakumar
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  3. Sharon A. McCracken
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kelly J. McKelvey .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Monash Medical Centre, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Padma Murthi

  2. INRS-Institut Armand-Frappier, Laval, Québec, Canada

    Cathy Vaillancourt

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McKelvey, K.J., Ariyakumar, G., McCracken, S.A. (2018). Inflammatory and Immune System Markers. In: Murthi, P., Vaillancourt, C. (eds) Preeclampsia . Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1710. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7498-6_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7498-6_7

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7497-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7498-6

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