[The subpopulations of T lymphocyte and the function of suppressor T cell in normal pregnancy and pregnancy-induced hypertension].

T-lymphocyte subpopulations were determined by the monoclonal antibodies (OKT3, OKT4, OKT8) in 20 cases of normal pregnancy, 36 cases of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and 20 cases of normal non-pregnant women. The assaying of ConA-induced suppressor T cell (Ts cell) function was carried out in another 20 cases of late pregnancy, 20 cases of moderate and severe PIH, and 10 cases of normal non-pregnant women. The results showed: the percentage of Ts cell increased significantly and the ratios of Th/Ts decreased significantly during normal pregnancy as compared with normal non-pregnant women. As compared with the late pregnant women, a lowering of Ts cell and elevating ratio of Th/Ts were found in PIH cases with statistical significance in severe PIH. A decrease of Ts cell function was also seen in moderate and severe PIH cases. All these findings suggest that the changes of Ts cell in amount and function may play an important role in maintaining normal pregnancy and in the pathogenesis of PIH.