differences in the expression of tlrs and inflammatory cytokines in pre-eclamptic compared with healthy pregnant women

background: preeclampsia (pe) is one of the most complex and life-threatening pregnancy disorders and is considered as a major cause of mortality among mothers and fetuses worldwide. although the exact etiology of pe is not well known several lines of evidence support an immunological etiology for pe. objective: to investigate the differences in the expression of tlrs 2, 4, 5, and 6 and a group of inflammatory cytokines including il-1, il-6, tnf-α and ifn-γ in placentas from pe and healthy pregnant women in their third trimester of pregnancy. methods: this case-control study was performed on fifteen pe and fifteen age and gestational matched healthy pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy. real time pcr (rt-pcr) technique was used to determine the expression of tlrs 2, 4, 5, and 6 in the maternal and fetal parts of the placenta. moreover, the expressions of il-1, il-6, tnf-α and ifn-γ at rna level in placental samples, peripheral, and cord blood were investigated. results: the results of the present study indicated that the expressions of tlrs 4, 5 and 6 were significantly increased in both maternal part (p