Fig. 7.

Anti-IL-6 blocks CD81-induced PE-like symptoms and reverses the imbalance of Treg/Th17 cells. Pregnant rats were infected with AdCD81 or AdCTL on GD5. IL-6-blocking antibodies were administered by intraperitoneal injection on GD6 after blood pressure measurement. The proportions of Tregs (a) and Th17 cells (b) were analyzed after sacrifice on GD9 (AdCTL, n = 3; AdCD81, n = 6; AdCTL + anti-IL-6, n = 4; AdCD81 + anti-IL-6, n = 7). c Systolic blood pressure and d Urinary protein concentration were increased in AdCD81-infected rats and were alleviated by anti-IL6. AdCD81 (n = 5) vs. AdCTL (n = 3), P < 0.05; AdCD81 + anti-IL-6 (n = 5) vs. AdCD81 (n = 5), P < 0.05; AdCTL + anti-IL-6 (n = 3) vs. AdCTL (n = 3), P > 0.05. e Fetal weights were recorded on GD19 when the pregnant rats were sacrificed (AdCTL, n = 3, litter size = 47; AdCD81, n = 5, litter size = 65; AdCTL + anti-IL-6, n = 3, litter size = 48; AdCD81 + anti-IL-6, n = 5, litter size = 71). The significant differences in a, b, e were analyzed by t-test. The significant differences in c, d were determined by repeated measurement ANOVA. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001; ns, no significance