Umbilical cord blood cytokines during spontaneous labor and caesarean section


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Abstract

Cytokines play an important role in the regulation of immune responses during pregnancy and delivery. Until the present time, the role of a fetus and placenta as the initiators of parturition has been discussed. In this connection, it is relevant to investigate the umbilical cord blood levels of cytokines to identify their role in the development of childbirth. Objective. To investigate the umbilical cord blood levels of cytokines during spontaneous labor and caesarean section made before the onset of labor. Subjects and methods. Blood samples from umbilical arteries and veins were investigated in 64 newborn infants whose mothers had given birth at full term via vaginal delivery (n = 33) or caesarean section (n = 31). Umbilical cord serum cytokine levels were determined using the standard Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine 17-plex Assay (Bio-Rad, USA). Results. The levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17, IL-13, and IL-5) were found to be higher after spontaneous birth than those after cesarean section. Comparison of cytokine levels in the umbilical artery and vein revealed that IL-4 concentrations were higher in the latter in the spontaneous delivery group. Conclusion. The findings correspond to the idea that inflammatory mechanisms are involved in the development of childbirth and in the intrapartum preparation of the fetal immune system for its extrauterine life.

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About the authors

O. V Tysyachnyi

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: olti23@mail.ru
3nd year postgraduate student of the maternity departments

L. V Krechetova

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: l_krechetova@oparina4.ru
PhD, the head of Laboratory of clinical immunology

O. R Baev

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: metod_obsgyn@hotmail.com
MD, PhD, professor, the head of Maternity Department

V. V Vtorushina

Research Center of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Perinatology, Ministry of Health of Russia

Email: vtorushina@inbox.ru
PhD, doctor of laboratory of clinical immunology

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