The Role of Interleukin-17, Interleukin-23, and Transforming Growth Factor-β in Pregnancy Complicated by Placental Insufficiency

AIM: The aim of the study was to evaluate the role of Interleukin-17 (IL-17), Interleukin-23 (IL-23), and transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in pregnancy complicated by placental insufficiency and in normal pregnancy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study comprised 34 patients with pregnancy complicated by fetal growth restriction (FGR) associated with preeclampsia (PE), as well as 35 healthy pregnant women. The concentrations of IL-17, IL-23, and TGF-β in sera from maternal peripheral blood were determined by an immunoenzymatic assay. RESULTS: There were higher concentrations of IL-17 in the study group when compared to the controls. In the group of patients with placental insufficiency, the levels of IL-17 positively correlated with systolic blood pressure (R = 0.42, p < 0.01). The study obtained comparable concentrations of IL-23 in both studied groups. The concentrations of TGF-β were significantly lower in pregnancy complicated by the insufficiency of placenta when compared to the controls. CONCLUSIONS: It seems possible that the increased concentrations of IL-17 and the deficiency of TGF-β in pregnancy complicated by FGR and PE can be responsible for the activation of inflammatory response observed in PE cases.