title: Immunolocalisation of interleukin-4 and interleukin-4 receptor in placenta and fetal membranes in association with pre-term labour and pre-eclampsia.
abstract: The aim of this study was to characterise the localisation and staining intensity of immunoreactive (ir) interleukin-4 (IL-4) and IL-4 receptor (IL-4R) in human placenta and fetal membranes in association with pre-term and term labour, and pre-eclampsia. The data obtained in this study establish the presence of irIL-4 and IL-4R in human placenta and fetal membranes obtained from women at 25-41 completed weeks of gestation. IL-4 and IL-4R immunohistochemical staining was principally localised in villous and chorionic trophoblast, and to amnion epithelial cells. The intensity of IL-4 and IL-4R immunohistochemical staining was not significantly affected by labour status at term or pre-term (p > 0. 05), with the exception of IL-4R in the amnion (p < 0.05). In term amnion, IL-4R was only detectable following labour onset. When data were stratified with respect to the presence or absence of pre-eclampsia, no statistical difference in immunohistochemical localisation or staining intensity for either IL-4 or IL-4R could be identified for any of the tissues studied. Co-localisation of IL-4 and IL-4R within gestational tissues may indicate auto- and/or paracrine mechanisms of action for this cytokine. Tissue-specific, labour-associated induction of IL-4R may contribute to the regulation of biological effects of IL-4 within the uteroplacental unit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Rigshospitalet (National University Hospital), Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: C U
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Henriques
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bendtzen
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000737:chemistry; D002823:Chorion / Q000737:chemistry; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000378:metabolism*; D010920:Placenta / Q000737:chemistry*; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4 / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019948:Receptors, Interleukin-4; D015847:Interleukin-4