Antimicrobial peptides in pregnant women with TORCH infections
https://doi.org/10.17749/2313-7347.2019.13.3.197-203
Abstract
Introduction. Analysis for TORCH infections is ordered to simultaneously detect several common infections: Toxoplasmosis, Other infections (syphilis, hepatitis B, chickenpox, Epstein-Barr virus, parvovirus and some others), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus. Contracting a TORCH infection in pregnancy triggers the synthesis of immune factors including antimicrobial peptides (AMPs).
Aim: to determine the levels of AMPs – lactoferrin, defensin, endotoxin, BPI (bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein) and hepcidin – in the blood serum of pregnant women with TORCH infections.
Materials and methods. The main group included 40 pregnant women with TORCH infections; in 33 of those, pregnancy continued until full-term delivery, and 7 women had miscarriages at the end of the first trimester. The comparison group consisted of 29 pregnant women free of TORCH infections. Blood for AMP measurement was taken in all pregnant women in the first trimester and in women with an ongoing pregnancy also in the III trimester. The control group consisted of 19 healthy non-pregnant women. Serum AMP was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
Results. In pregnant women with TORCH infections, there was an increase in the serum levels of lactoferrin, defensin, hepcidin, BPI, and endotoxin; the increase was most pronounced in the first trimester of pregnancy. The decrease in AMP levels observed in the III trimester could be due to the antiviral treatment given to the patients in order to prevent the immunological rejection of the embryo and maintain the normal course of pregnancy.
Conclusion. The increased level of AMPs reflects the enhanced activity of the immune system and represents one of the pathogenetic links of spontaneous abortion.
About the Authors
G. V. Narimanova
Azerbaijan Medical University
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Gulzar V. Narimanova – Assistant, Department of Biochemistry
100 Bratiev Mardanovykh St., Baku AZ 1078
I. D. Shakhverdieva
Azerbaijan Medical University
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Ilakha D. Shakhverdieva – Researcher, Scientific Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry
100 Bratiev Mardanovykh St., Baku AZ 1078
I. A. Kerimova
Azerbaijan Medical University
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Ilkhama A. Kerimova – PhD, Assistant, Department of Biochemistry
100 Bratiev Mardanovykh St., Baku AZ 1078
G. A. Jafarova
Azerbaijan Medical University
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Gulnara A. Jafarova – PhD (Biology), Senior Researcher, Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry
100 Bratiev Mardanovykh St., Baku AZ 1078
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Review
For citations:
Narimanova G.V., Shakhverdieva I.D., Kerimova I.A., Jafarova G.A. Antimicrobial peptides in pregnant women with TORCH infections. Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction. 2019;13(3):197-203. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17749/2313-7347.2019.13.3.197-203
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