FAS-receptor expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes in pregnant women with fetal growth restriction

Aim. To study the expression of Fas-receptor on peripheral blood monocytes and lymphocytes in women who have given birth to children with low birth weight. Methods. Population-based study recruited 242 women who have given birth at the gestation term of more than 35 weeks. Group 1 (n=108) included mother-newborn pairs with low birth weight of newborns, group 2 (n=134) - mother-newborn pairs with normal birth weight for the gestational age. Peripheral blood lymphocytes and monocytes total count and subpopulations, CD95 (Fas-receptor) apoptosis receptor expression level (using four- and five-parametric phenotypic test) were determined, using a combination of monoclonal antibodies to differentiation and activation markers. Results. CD3+CD95+ cells levels were significantly higher in women who delivered of low birth weight children. In T-cell subpopulation of group 1 women, there was a statistically significant increase in relative values of Fas-receptor expression on T-helpers and T-cytotoxic lymphocytes - by 1.6 (p <0.001) and 6.3 (p <0.001) times, respectively, and by 2.9 (p <0.001) and 2.6 (p <0.001) times, respectively, in absolute values. There was a reduction in absolute counts of CD3+CD4+ and CD3+CD8+ T-lymphocyte subpopulations in women who delivered of low birth weight children compared to controls. The ratio of CD95+-expressing T-lymphocyte subpopulations in group 1 women was the following: CD4+CD95+/CD8+CD95+ ratio was 4.9 times higher compared to the second group (p <0.001). Increased absolute and relative Fas-receptor expression on B-lymphocytes [by 63.9% (p <0.001) and 33.3% (p=0.002), respectively] was found in women who delivered of low birth weight children compared to women who delivered of children with normal birth weight. CD14+CD95+ expression analysis revealed increased absolute and relative counts of Fas-receptor expressing monocytes. Conclusion. Marked expression of CD95+ in circulating monocytes and raised CD4+CD95+/CD8+CD95+ ratio in women who delivered of low birth weight children may be a laboratory test for detecting higher chance for fetal growth restriction.

apoptosis, pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, immune homeostasis, Fas-receptor (CD95)