Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in preterm and term pregnancy, parturition, and intra-amniotic infection.
OBJECTIVE
[corrected] To determine the sources of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in amniotic fluid and to examine its relation to labor and clinically diagnosed intra-amniotic infection.


METHODS
We assessed G-CSF and G-CSF receptor expression in placentas (n = 50) from 5-40 weeks' gestation, and G-CSF concentrations were measured in amniotic fluid (n = 146), bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (n = 8), and paired maternal serum, cord blood, neonatal serum, and neonatal urine samples (n = 16).


RESULTS
Immunohistochemical staining and messenger RNA analysis showed placental expression of G-CSF and G-CSF receptor throughout gestation. The number of decidual stromal cells expressing G-CSF receptor was significantly higher in women with intra-amniotic infection compared with women without infection (27 +/- 2 versus 18 +/- 3 cells per high power field, P =.02). Amniotic fluid concentrations of G-CSF were not significantly different in noninfected preterm compared with term samples (1708 +/- 1673 versus 1612 +/- 2100 pg/mL, P =.9). Labor was not associated with a significant increase in amniotic fluid G-CSF concentrations (1864 +/- 3151 versus 1612 +/- 2100 pg/mL, P =.77, term labor versus no labor; 3335 +/- 5364 versus 1708 +/- 1673 pg/mL, P =.09, preterm). Concentrations of G-CSF in maternal serum, amniotic fluid, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and neonatal urine were increased during intra-amniotic infection (all P <.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Amniotic fluid G-CSF concentrations were similar in preterm and term pregnancies and were not significantly influenced by labor. Intra-amniotic infection was associated with an increased number of placental cells expressing the G-CSF receptor and higher concentrations of G-CSF in amniotic fluid, maternal serum, neonatal urine, and neonatal bronchoalveolar lavage samples.
Calhoun
D A
DA
Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida, USA. calhoda@peds.ufl.edu
Chegini
N
N
Polliotti
B M
BM
Gersting
J A
JA
Miller
R K
RK
Christensen
R D
RD
D000328:Adult; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000276:immunology; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology; D005865:Gestational Age; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D016188:Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000378:metabolism
D016188:Receptors, Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; D016179:Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor