Preeclampsia may result from overactivation of the maternal immune system and is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and excessive inflammation. Given the importance of maternal immune system regulation and anti-inflammatory cytokines in normotensive pregnancies, we hypothesized that maternal immune system activation via Toll-like receptor 3 during pregnancy would cause preeclampsia-like symptoms in mice, which would be made worse by deficiency of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 10. The Toll-like receptor 3 agonist polyinosine-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C) caused hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and proteinuria in mice only when pregnant. In the absence of poly I:C, pregnant interleukin 10 knockout mice exhibited a significant increase in systolic blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction, and serum proinflammatory cytokines, as well as aortic and placental platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression compared with pregnant wild-type mice. Deficiency of interleukin 10 further augmented these measures in poly I:C-treated pregnant mice. In addition, sera from poly I:C-treated pregnant wild-type mice significantly decreased relaxation responses and increased platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression in isolated aortas from nonpregnant wild-type mice, and these effects were augmented by sera from poly I:C-treated interleukin 10 knockout mice. Coincubation with recombinant interleukin 10 normalized relaxation responses and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression in all of the groups. Collectively, Toll-like receptor 3 activation during pregnancy causes preeclampsia-like symptoms, which are exacerbated by the absence of interleukin 10. Exogenous interleukin 10 treatment had beneficial effects on endothelial function and may be beneficial in women with preeclampsia.
