Interleukin-8 levels and granulocyte counts in cervical mucus during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
We measured interleukin-8 (IL-8) and granulocyte counts in cervical mucus to assess local immunity and parturition.


METHODS
We detected IL-8 by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. Granulocytes were counted on a slide glass containing mucus from the external cervical os.


RESULTS
ELISA and Western blotting revealed IL-8 in cervical mucus from both nonpregnant and pregnant women. There were no significant differences in cervical mucus IL-8 levels or granulocyte counts between follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases. However, IL-8 and granulocyte counts were significantly decreased after menopause. IL-8 and granulocyte counts were increased significantly during pregnancy, and were further increased after 38 weeks of gestation and at labor. IL-8 levels were significantly correlated with granulocyte counts, based on the study of 678 samples (P <0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
IL-8 is involved in the increase of cervical granulocytes and in the process of parturition.
Luo
L
L
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Hospital, China.
Ibaragi
T
T
Maeda
M
M
Nozawa
M
M
Kasahara
T
T
Sakai
M
M
Sasaki
Y
Y
Tanebe
K
K
Saito
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008875:Middle Aged; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy
D016209:Interleukin-8