Interleukin-3-like activity levels in pregnant women: possible modulation by progesterone.
Human interleukin-3-like activity (IL-3-LA), a factor possessing similar characteristics to interleukin-3 and having clony stimulating factor (CSF) activity, has recently been defined. In the present study, IL-3-LA levels in the sera of women before and after delivery were examined. The results indicate a significant increase in IL-3-LA levels in women before delivery as compared to IL-3-LA levels after delivery or to non-pregnant healthy women. The ability of mononuclear cells from women before and after delivery to produce IL-3-LA was similar to that of mononuclear cells from cord blood. In addition, the effect of progesterone on in vitro IL-3-LA production was examined and a stimulatory dose-dependent effect was observed. These observations point to the hypothesis that during pregnancy IL-3-LA levels are modulated by progesterone. With placental loss, the IL-3-LA in the sera decreases, although the mononuclear cells previously affected by the hormone continue to produce cytokines.
Fishman
P
P
Hematology Research Unit, Golda Medical Center, Hasharon Hospital, Petach Tiqva, Israel.
Shoenfeld
Y
Y
Hart
J
J
Zigelman
R
R
Shamir
Y
Y
Feldberg
D
D
Inbar
O
O
Sredni
D
D
Djaldetti
M
M
D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007377:Interleukin-3 / Q000097:blood*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011374:Progesterone / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology
D007377:Interleukin-3; D011374:Progesterone