Cytokine profiles in peripheral, placental and cord blood in pregnant women from an area endemic for Plasmodium falciparum.
During gestation, inflammatory cytokines are sometimes more abundant than growth-promoting cytokines, and via direct or indirect effects, proinflammatory cytokines lead to intrauterine growth retardation. We used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to measure the concentrations of three proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-12 (IL-12p40), as well as interleukin-15 (IL-15) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), in plasma from peripheral, placental and cord blood of thirty pregnant Gabonese women. All of these women lived in Libreville and Lambaréné, two malaria hyperendemic areas. IL-12p40 concentrations were higher in cord blood than in placental or peripheral blood. The MCP-1 concentration was higher in placental blood, than in peripheral or cord blood. IL-15 concentrations were similar at the three sites. MCP-1 concentrations were higher in the placentas of primiparous women than in those of multiparous women. The highest concentrations were found in infected placentas. IL-15 concentrations were significantly higher in peripheral and placental plasma from uninfected women than in plasma from infected women. Strong positive correlations were found between placental and cord IL-12p40 and IL-15 plasma concentrations. Likewise, a strong positive correlation was found between IL-12p40 and MCP-1 concentrations in cord and peripheral plasma. These results suggest that placental, maternal peripheral and cord blood present different cytokine profiles in response to P. falciparum.
Bouyou-Akotet
Marielle K
MK
Medical Research Unit, Albert Schweitzer Hospital, Lambaréné, Gabon.
Kombila
Maryvonne
M
Kremsner
Peter G
PG
Mavoungou
Elie
E
D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D016778:Malaria, Falciparum / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange / Q000276:immunology; D010920:Placenta / Q000276:immunology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D010963:Plasmodium falciparum / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015597:Pregnancy Complications, Parasitic / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
D016207:Cytokines