Changes in cytokine production during pregnancy in patients with Graves' disease.
In order to investigate the role of type 1 and type 2 cytokines in the remission of Graves' disease (GD) during pregnancy, spontaneous and mitogen-stimulated production of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were measured by enzyme-linked immunospot assay of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 10 pregnant women with GD, 8 healthy pregnant women, and 10 healthy nonpregnant women. Tests were performed in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy and 10-17 weeks after delivery. IL-4 production was not affected greatly by normal or GD pregnancy, whereas IFN-gamma production was suppressed throughout pregnancy but returned to normal levels after delivery in both controls and patients. IL-6 and TNF-alpha tended to be higher in GD pregnancy than normal pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters. Controls had raised IL-10 in the first trimester with a return to normal levels by the third trimester, whereas patients had raised levels throughout pregnancy. IL-12 levels were suppressed to a greater extent in control than Graves' pregnancy, especially during the second and third trimesters. Ratios of IL10:IL12 in phytohemaglutinin (PHA)-stimulated cultures were much lower in GD than normal pregnancy and cross-regulation of IL-10 and IL-12 may be deficient in GD.
Jones
B M
BM
Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam. bmjones@ha.org.uk
Kwok
J S
JS
Kung
A W
AW
D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000276:immunology*; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin / Q000032:analysis; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D011989:Receptors, Thyrotropin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D018664:Interleukin-12; D007371:Interferon-gamma