Changes in cytokine production during and after normal pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
The systemic T helper 1/T helper 2 (Th1/Th2) cytokine balance during normal human pregnancy is controversial, and observations about the balance in the postpartum period have only been reported for up to 3 months.


METHODS
Whole-blood, from 83 healthy pregnant women, 80 healthy postpartum women, and 31 healthy non-pregnant women was stimulated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and ionomycin, and the levels of cytokines in the supernatant were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).


RESULTS
The production of all measured cytokines decreased during pregnancy, especially in the second trimester. After delivery, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) increased from 2 to 11 months postpartum, and IL-4 increased from 6 to 11 months postpartum.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate that 1) decreases in production of both Th1-and Th2-type cytokines during pregnancy may be related to the pregnancy-induced amelioration of autoimmune diseases: 2) increases in production of both Th1- and Th2-type cytokines in the postpartum period may be related to the postpartum aggravation of autoimmune diseases.
Shimaoka
Y
Y
Department of Laboratory Medicine, Osaka University Medical School, Suita, Japan.
Hidaka
Y
Y
Tada
H
H
Nakamura
T
T
Mitsuda
N
N
Morimoto
Y
Y
Murata
Y
Y
Amino
N
N
D000328:Adult; D001327:Autoimmune Diseases / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*
D016207:Cytokines