title: Interleukin-8 levels and granulocyte counts in cervical mucus during pregnancy.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beijing Hospital, China.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ibaragi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maeda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nozawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanebe
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saito
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D016209:Interleukin-8