TNF-alpha and IL-I secretion in macrophage cultures obtained from placentas in various pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the role of inflammatory cytokines TNF-a, IL-I a and IL-I 13 in term and preterm parturition at different gestational ages.

Full Text

Methods: Placentas were obtained from nonlaboring women with cesarean deliveries at 21-26 weeks gestation (early preterm), 31-34 weeks gestation (late preterm), and term or from laboring women with spontaneous early preterm, late preterm abortions and vaginal delivery at term. Cell cultures were prepared by dispase-collagenase digestion of placenta tissue and flcoll-urografln density centrifugation. In vitro cytokine secretion was determined with ELISA.

Results: In nonlaboring group secretion ofTNF-a and IL-Ib 13 increased significantly since early to late preterm (TNF-a from 9,8±1,8 pg/ug cell protein to 20,1±6,9 pg/ng; IL-1(3 from 10,0±1,4pg/ug to 23,1±2,6 pg/ug). Increase of IL-a (30,5±6,1 pg/ug vs 17,9±2,1 pg/ug) and IL-lb 30,3 ±5,8 pg/ug) level was also observed in term compared with late preterm. TNF-a secretion did not change in term macrophages when compared with late term. Spontaneous laboring activity in early preterm led to 5-20-fold increase of cytokine secretion (TNF-a - 242,1±39,8 pg/u-g, IL-lb -86,4±7,0pg/ug, IL-a - 204,6±12,3 pg/ug). In contrast, in term laboring women we observed no significant changes in TNF-a production (19,0±3,8 pg/u-g) and even decreased IL-Ia and IL-Ib secretion (13,3±4,4 pg/ug and 15,4±1,6 pg/ug correspondingly).

Conclusion: Early preterm labors (second trimester of pregnancy) are associated with elevated placental cytokine production.