Cyclosporin A significantly improves preeclampsia signs and suppresses inflammation in a rat model

- Blood pressure and urine protein levels are increased in a LPS-induced preeclampsia rat model.
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines are also increased in this model.
- Treatment of symptomatic animals with cyclosporin A reduces blood pressure, urine protein and cytokine levels.
- Cyclosporin A is a potentially novel therapeutic for treatment of preeclampsia symptoms.

Preeclampsia is associated with an increased inflammatory response. Immune suppression might be an effective treatment. The aim of this study was to examine whether Cyclosporin A (CsA), an immunosuppressant, improves clinical characteristics of preeclampsia and suppresses inflammation in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preeclampsia rat model. Pregnant rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group 1 (PE) rats each received LPS via tail vein on gestational day (GD) 14; group 2 (PE + CsA5) rats were pretreated with LPS (1.0 μg/kg) on GD 14 and were then treated with CsA (5 mg/kg, ip) on GDs 16, 17 and 18; group 3 (PE + CsA10) rats were pretreated with LPS (1.0 μg/kg) on GD 14 and were then treated with CsA (10 mg/kg, ip) on GDs 16, 17 and 18; group 4 (pregnant control, PC) rats were treated with the vehicle (saline) used for groups 1, 2 and 3. Systolic blood pressure, urinary albumin, biometric parameters and the levels of serum cytokines were measured on day 20. CsA treatment significantly reduced LPS-induced systolic blood pressure and the mean 24-h urinary albumin excretion. Pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-17, IFN-γ and TNF-α were increased in the LPS treatment group but were reduced in (LPS + CsA) group (P < 0.05). Anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-4 was decreased in the LPS group but was increased in (LPS + CsA) group (P < 0.05). Cyclosporine A improved preeclampsia signs and attenuated inflammatory responses in the LPS induced preeclampsia rat model which suggests that immunosuppressant might be an alternative management option for preeclampsia.