Evaluation of soluble concentration Fas and Fas ligand in maternal and cord blood 3rd trimester of pregnancy

Abstract

Objectives: The the study was to estimate the concentrations of antiapoptotic sFas and pro-apoptotic FasL in the serum of pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy and in the cord blood serum of neonates from vein and arteries separately. The correlation could be crucial for evaluation of apoptosis process intensity in placenta and the role of fetal blood circulation system on distribution of sFas and FasL. Material and methods: The study group consisted of 28 pregnant women in physiological pregnancy, between 38- 41 weeks. Vein blood was taken from maternal elbow vein and umbilical cord, separately from vein and arteries. The research was done by sets for sFas and FasL from R & D Systems Elisa kit. Results: In arterial and vein cord blood there were much more lower concentrations of sFas than in maternal blood-arterial cord blood 3351.78 pg/mL, vein cord blood 3351.78 pg/mL versus maternal blood 5769.62 pg/mL (p < 0.001). No difference was found in sFas concentrations between cord arterial and vein blood sera. Statistical difference was found between mean concentration of Fas ligand in maternal blood serum (71.36 pg/mL) and arterial cord blood serum (164.57 pg/mL) p < 0.05 (p = 0.001). Cord arterial blood serum showed much higher concentrations of FasL than maternal blood serum. No difference was found between cord arterial and vein blood sera concentrations of FasL: 164.57 pg/mL vs. 170.00 pg/mL (p = 0.701). Conclusions: Obtained results suggest no influence of sFas and FasL production on fetal organism apoptosis. Lowering of sFas concentration in fetal blood could mean the increase of apoptosis in fetal organism compared to maternal. Higher concentration of FasL in cord blood than in mothers suggests higher apoptosis intensification in fetal circulation and no influence of blood flow across placenta on its concentration.