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

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.