Lymphocyte calcium influx characteristics and their modulation by Kv1.3 and IKCa1 channel inhibitors in healthy pregnancy and preeclampsia

Problem Calcium handling of T lymphocytes is altered in healthy pregnancy (HP) and preeclampsia (PE) compared to non-pregnant (non-P) women. We compared the activation-elicited calcium influx in T lymphocytes in HP, PE and non-P women and tested its alteration upon inhibition of Kv1.3 and IKCa1 potassium channels. Method of study The alteration of calcium influx was measured in major T-lymphocyte subsets of 9 non-P, HP and PE women with flow cytometry with or without treatment of cells with potassium channel inhibitors. Results The elicited calcium response was lower in HP compared to non-P. In HP, calcium influx was sensitive to potassium channel inhibition in CD8 and Th1, but not in Th2 cells. In PE, calcium influx and its sensitivity to inhibition were comparable to non-P. Conclusion There is a characteristic pattern of calcium influx in T lymphocytes and its sensitivity to potassium channel inhibition in HP that is missing in PE, raising the notion that T-lymphocyte calcium handling may have a role in the characteristic immune status of HP