Acute intrauterine infection results in an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the pregnant rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
Intrauterine infection results in an increase in cytokines. This study compared the time courses for the pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine responses in 33 pregnant rabbits at 70% gestation. Pro-inflammatory markers were activated nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) in placenta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in amniotic fluid. These were compared to the anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), in placenta and uterus.


METHODS
Does were endoscopically inoculated with Escherichia coli through their cervices and sacrificed at six intervals between 0 and 30 hr post-inoculation.


RESULTS
Activated NF-kappaB, determined by electromobility gel shift assay, increased significantly 16 hr after bacterial inoculation (P < or = 0.05). This was directly mirrored by TNF-alpha concentrations, determined by bioassay, in the amniotic fluid. However, IL-1ra levels, determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, did not increase in response to infection.


CONCLUSIONS
Intrauterine infection results in an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines that may potentiate infection-induced preterm delivery.
Leslie
K K
KK
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
Lee
S L
SL
Woodcock
S M
SM
Davies
J K
JK
McDuffie
R S
RS
Hirsch
E
E
Sherman
M P
MP
Eskens
J L
JL
Gibbs
R S
RS
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000276:immunology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism; D014591:Uterine Diseases / Q000276:immunology*; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D053590:Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein; D016328:NF-kappa B; D012795:Sialoglycoproteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha