Altered B cell subset distribution and expression of PD-1 in preeclampsia patients. (2025)

[BACKGROUND AND AIM] The role of the programmed cell death protein-1/programmed death ligand-1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia (PE) is currently a subject of research interest. This work aimed to characterize different B cell subsets and their PD-1 expression levels in 54 PE patients compared with 21 age-matched women having normal, uncomplicated pregnancies of comparable gestational age. Also, to evaluate the possibility of a relation between the levels of these subsets with disease severity and the antihypertensive therapy.

[METHODS] B cell subsets were characterized based on the relative expression of CD24 and CD38, and their expression of PD-1 was evaluated in all participants by flow cytometry.

[RESULTS] The percentage of naïve B cells decreased significantly,