Flow cytometric investigation of CD40-CD40 ligand system in preeclampsia and normal pregnancy

Abstract

Our aim was to investigate the CD40-CD40 ligand system in preeclamptic women. We also studied CD62P and platelet-monocyte aggregates, which have been closely linked to the CD40-CD40L system. Platelet expression of CD40L and CD62P and expression of CD40 on monocytes and platelet-monocyte aggregates were determined by flow cytometry in whole blood from 23 preeclamptic women, 23 normotensive pregnant women, and 23 nonpregnant women. The preeclamptic women showed a significant increase in CD40L and CD62P on platelets and in CD40 on monocytes when compared with normotensive pregnant women and nonpregnant women (all P