title: Tumor necrosis factor-beta in human pregnancy and labor.
abstract: The aims of this study were to determine tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-beta) concentration profiles in peripheral venous plasma and amniotic fluid during pregnancy and at the time of labor and to characterise TNF-beta mRNA expression and TNF-beta release from human gestational tissues. In addition, we investigated the expression of TNF-beta binding protein, lymphotoxin-beta (LT-beta), in human gestational tissues. The mean (+/-S.E.M.) TNF-beta concentrations in maternal plasma (TIL, 78 +/- 12 pg/ml, n = 7 vs. TNIL, 304 +/- 88 pg/ml, n = 7) and amniotic fluid (TIL, 8 +/- 5 pg/ml, n = 6 vs. TNIL, 73 +/- 20 pg/ml, n = 20) were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in association with term labor-onset (TIL) compared to term not-in-labor (TNIL). TNF-beta concentration in maternal plasma and amniotic fluid did not change significantly either with preterm labor (PIL), or during pregnancy. Group-matched comparison of maternal plasma and amniotic fluid TNF-beta concentrations demonstrated that amniotic fluid TNF-beta concentrations were 6-8 fold lower than maternal plasma TNF-beta concentrations. Furthermore, no detectable TNF-beta was secreted from cultured human amniotic, choriodecidual and placental explants. Although, TNF-beta mRNA was detected in amnion, choriodecidual and placenta, LT-beta was similarly expressed in these tissues, suggesting that TNF-beta may be cell membrane bound. These data demonstrate that TNF-beta is present at low levels within the intrauterine environment and may suggest that TNF-beta is specifically inhibited at the maternal-fetal interface.
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatal Medicine, Royal Women's Hospital, Carlton, Victoria, Australia. nlaham@ariel.ucs.unimelb.edu.au
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Laham
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Van Dunné
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Abraham
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Farrugia
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendtzen
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Brennecke
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rice
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D046508:Culture Techniques; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D053308:Lymphotoxin-beta; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: C505886:LTB protein, human; D008233:Lymphotoxin-alpha; D053308:Lymphotoxin-beta; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger