The transforming growth factor-ss superfamily cytokine macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 is present in high concentrations in the serum of pregnant women.
Macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) is a recently described divergent member of the transforming growth factor-ss superfamily. MIC-1 transcription up-regulation is associated with macrophage activation, and this observation led to its cloning. Northern blots indicate that MIC-1 is also present in human placenta. A sensitive sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the quantification of MIC-1 was developed and used to examine the role of this cytokine in pregnancy. High levels of MIC-1 are present in the sera of pregnant women. The level rises substantially with progress of gestation. MIC-1 can also be detected, in large amounts, in amniotic fluid and placental extracts. In addition, the BeWo placental trophoblastic cell line was found to constitutively express the MIC-1 transcript and secrete large amounts of MIC-1. These findings suggest that the placental trophoblast is a major source of the MIC-1 present in maternal serum and amniotic fluid. We suggest that MIC-1 may promote fetal survival by suppressing the production of maternally derived proinflammatory cytokines within the uterus.
Moore
A G
AG
Centre for Immunology, St. Vincent's Hospital and University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Brown
D A
DA
Fairlie
W D
WD
Bauskin
A R
AR
Brown
P K
PK
Munier
M L
ML
Russell
P K
PK
Salamonsen
L A
LA
Wallace
E M
EM
Breit
S N
SN
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012756:Sheep; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood*; D014327:Trophoblasts / Q000378:metabolism
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D016207:Cytokines; C526140:GDF15 protein, human; C526141:Gdf15 protein, mouse; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta