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Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in human preterm and term cervical ripening

På svenska

Author

  • Aurelija Dubicke
  • Emma Fransson
  • Gabriele Centini
  • Eva Andersson
  • Birgitta Bystrom
  • Anders Malmström
  • Felice Petraglia
  • Eva Sverremark-Ekstrom
  • Gunvor Ekman-Ordeberg

Summary, in English

Cervical ripening is necessary for successful delivery. Since cytokines are believed to be involved in this process, the aim of this study was to investigate possible changes in the mRNA and protein expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-12, IL-18) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IL-13)in the human cervix during pregnancy, term and preterm labor. Cervical biopsies were taken from 59 women: 21 at preterm labor, 24 at term labor, 10 at term not in labor and 4 from non-pregnant women. mRNA was analyzed with real-time RT-PCR and protein expression and/or secretion with immunohistochemistry and ELISA. There was an upregulation of mRNA for IL-10, IL-13, IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta in the laboring groups, while mRNA for IL-12 and IL-18 was downregulated. IL-4 mRNA was detected more frequently, while IL-12 mRNA expression was lower, in the preterm labor group than in the term labor group. The protein levels of IL-4 and IL-12 were lower and IL-18 tended to be higher in the labor groups, while IL-10 protein levels were unaffected by labor. IL-4 protein levels were significantly higher in the preterm subgroup with bacterial infection than in the non-infected group. IL-10 had higher expression in squamous epithelium at preterm labor than at term. In conclusion, the major changes in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine mRNA and protein expression in cervix occur during the labor process irrespective of the length of gestation. Our results indicate that dysregulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the human cervix could be involved in the pathogenesis of preterm labor. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Department/s

  • Matrix Biology

Publishing year

2010

Language

English

Pages

176-185

Publication/Series

Journal of Reproductive Immunology

Volume

84

Issue

2

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Elsevier

Topic

  • Cell and Molecular Biology

Keywords

  • Preterm birth
  • Cytokines
  • Cervical ripening
  • Cervix

Status

Published

Research group

  • Matrix Biology

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1872-7603