Contribution of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase in preeclampsia

Abstract

Background Preeclampsia (PE) is a complex, multiorgan disease that leads to maternofetal morbidity and mortality. Increasing evidence now indicates that PE may have an immunological cause. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) is an immunomodulatory intracellular enzyme that suppresses immune response. The present study aimed to determine whether alterations in the level of IDO contribute to PE and its relation to the severity of PE. Patients and methods A case–control study was carried out on 80 pregnant women, who were divided into two groups − 40 PE patients and 40 ethnically matched, healthy, controls. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine placental IDO protein concentrations. In addition, Pearson’s correlation with systolic blood pressure (as an indicator of PE severity) was estimated. Results Placental concentration of IDO was significantly lower in the PE group than in the control group, and there was an inverse association between IDO and severity of the PE. Conclusion The present study demonstrated that IDO might contribute to the pathogenesis of PE.

Keywords

• enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay
• indoleamine 2
• 3-dioxygenase
• preeclampsia
• pregnancy