Maternal serum and amniotic fluid levels of macrophage inhibitory cytokine 1 in Down syndrome and chromosomally normal pregnancies.
OBJECTIVE
To measure maternal serum and amniotic fluid levels of macrophage inhibitory cytokine-1 (MIC-1) in Down syndrome and normal pregnancies, assessing the utility of MIC-1 as a prenatal marker of Down syndrome.


METHODS
Stored serum from 64 Down syndrome and 399 control pregnancies, collected at 8 to 17 weeks of pregnancy, and stored amniotic fluid from 17 Down syndrome and 53 controls, collected at 15 to 19 weeks of pregnancy, were retrieved for analysis. MIC-1 was measured using an established in-house ELISA, blinded to sample type.


RESULTS
In maternal serum, MIC-1 levels are not altered in Down syndrome in either the first or second trimester. Levels, expressed as median (95% CI) multiples of the median (MoM), in the Down syndrome cases and controls were 1.07 (0.9-1.1) MoM and 1.0 (0.95-1.03) MoM respectively. In amniotic fluid, MIC-1 levels were significantly decreased compared to controls, 0.52 (0.44-0.64) MoM versus 1.0 (0.85-1.08) MoM (p < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
MIC-1 is decreased in amniotic fluid but not in maternal serum in Down syndrome pregnancies. MIC-1 will not be useful as a prenatal marker of Down syndrome.
Wallace
Euan M
EM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Monash Medical Centre, Clayton, Victoria.
Marjono
Budi
B
Brown
David A
DA
Crossley
Jennifer
J
Tong
Stephen
S
Aitken
David
D
Breit
Sam
S
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy
D015415:Biomarkers; D016207:Cytokines; C526140:GDF15 protein, human; D055436:Growth Differentiation Factor 15