Interleukin-8 is involved in cervical dilatation but not in prelabour cervical ripening.
Our aim was to determine the amount and source of interleukin (IL)-8 and to study IL-8 receptor expression in the human cervix during pregnancy and after labour. Cervical biopsies were obtained from six non-pregnant women, eight women undergoing pregnancy termination, 17 women undergoing elective caesarean section and 11 women after vaginal delivery. IL-8 levels were compared in women with and without a ripe cervix, as determined by cervical Bishop score and cervicovaginal fetal fibronectin levels. Levels of IL-8 and IL-1beta, a regulator of IL-8 expression, were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). IL-8, IL-1beta and IL-8 receptor proteins were localized by immunohistochemistry. Compared with late pregnancy, IL-8 levels increased after labour and vaginal delivery (P < 0.01) but there was no correlation with cervical ripening. IL-8 was localized to stromal cells, macrophages and granulocytes. There were no significant differences in IL-1beta levels between groups. IL-8 receptors were expressed primarily on granulocytes and macrophages after vaginal delivery. We conclude that IL-8 is involved in cervical dilatation but not in cervical ripening.
Sakamoto
Y
Y
School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Moran
P
P
Searle
R F
RF
Bulmer
J N
JN
Robson
S C
SC
D020070:Cervical Ripening / Q000276:immunology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000276:immunology*; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric; D005260:Female; D006098:Granulocytes / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000032:analysis; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000032:analysis*; D007747:Labor Stage, First / Q000276:immunology; D008264:Macrophages / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000276:immunology*; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B / Q000032:analysis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology
D007375:Interleukin-1; D016209:Interleukin-8; D023063:Receptors, Interleukin-8B