Kivonat:
Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are primarily known to be
intracellular proteins with molecular chaperone and
cytoprotective functions. However, Hsp60 and Hsp70 have been
found in the serum and plasma of healthy non-pregnant
individuals. We aimed to compare serum Hsp70 concentrations in
healthy pregnant women with those of healthy non-pregnant women
and to determine factors influencing serum Hsp70 levels in
normal pregnancy. One hundred and seventy six healthy pregnant
women with uncomplicated pregnancies (age, 17-44 years;
gestational age, 20-41 weeks) and 81 healthy, age-matched non-
pregnant women (age, 22-40 years) were enrolled in this cross-
sectional study. Serum Hsp70 concentrations were measured using
an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and were significantly
lower in healthy pregnant women than in healthy non-pregnant
women (median (25-75 percentile): 0.29 (0.20-0.35) ng/ml versus
1.27 (0.86-1.72) ng/ml; p < 0.001). In healthy pregnant women,
there was a statistically significant negative correlation
between maternal age and serum Hsp70 concentration (Spearman R =
-0.35; p < 0.001) and a significant positive correlation between
gestational age and serum Hsp70 level (Spearman R = 0.35; p <
0.001). The capacity of extracellular Hsp70 to elicit innate and
adaptive proinflammatory immune responses might be harmful in
pregnancy and lead to immune rejection of the fetal semi-
allograft. We hypothesize that decreased circulating Hsp70
levels are due to unknown regulatory mechanisms aimed at
maintaining immune tolerance in pregnancy. In conclusion, serum
Hsp70 concentrations are decreased in normal human pregnancy;
however, further studies are needed to explain the observed
differences between pregnant and non-pregnant women. ? 2007
Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
