Endotoxin-induced cytokine production of monocytes of third-trimester pregnant women compared with women in the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the function of the innate immune response during pregnancy. We therefore investigated monocyte cytokine production, as a measure of monocyte function, in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women.


METHODS
Whole blood of women in the follicular phase (day 5-6) and of healthy pregnant women (30 weeks) was collected and stimulated with endotoxin (2 microg/mL). After incubation for 4 hours (37 degrees C, 5% carbon dioxide), red blood cells were lysed and white blood cells were permeabilized, followed by staining with anti-CD14 (fluorescein isothiocyanate labeled) and with phycoerythrin-labeled tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, or interleukin-12. The cells were analyzed by flow cytometry after fixation. Results are expressed as a percentage cytokine producing cells after endotoxin stimulation. Statistical analysis was performed with the Mann-Whitney U test (P <.05).


RESULTS
Compared with the percentage endotoxin-induced cytokine producing peripheral monocytes in women in the follicular phase, this percentage in pregnancy was decreased for interleukin-12 (mean 6.63 +/- 1.34 vs 3.34 +/- 0.87, P <.05) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (mean 50.20 +/- 5.80 vs 31.29 +/- 5.57, P >.05). No significant difference was seen in the production of interleukin-1beta (mean 58.22 +/- 11.09 vs 47.18 +/- 7.88, P >.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The percentage of interleukin-12 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha producing monocytes is decreased in pregnant women compared with nonpregnant women, suggesting that pregnancy is a proinflammatory state.
Veenstra van Nieuwenhoven
Angelique L
AL
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital Groningen, The Netherlands. veenstravannieuwenhoven@freeler.nl
Bouman
Annechien
A
Moes
Henk
H
Heineman
Maas Jan
MJ
de Leij
Loe F M H
LF
Santema
Job
J
Faas
Marijke M
MM
D000328:Adult; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005498:Follicular Phase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000378:metabolism*; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis
D016207:Cytokines; D004731:Endotoxins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D018664:Interleukin-12