Progesterone modulation of inflammatory cytokine production in a fetoplacental artery explant model.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine if progesterone has an effect on fetoplacental artery production of inflammatory cytokines.


METHODS
Chorionic plate arteries were dissected from 5 placentas obtained from normal pregnancies after delivery at term. Arteries were incubated in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) alone, DMEM and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), DMEM with progesterone (P4), and DMEM with P4 and LPS. Samples of the tissue culture media were collected and evaluated for interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) by immunoassay.


RESULTS
There was a significant decrease in the production of IL-6 in P4-exposed fetoplacental arteries after LPS stimulation (P < .001). IL-10 and TNF-alpha levels were similar in control and treatment groups after LPS exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Pretreating fetoplacental arteries with P4 significantly decreased the production of IL-6 after LPS stimulation without altering the production of TNF-alpha or IL-10.
Shields
Andrea D
AD
Department OB/GYN, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, WA 98431, USA. andrea.shields@nw.amedd.army.mil
Wright
James
J
Paonessa
Damian J
DJ
Gotkin
Jennifer
J
Howard
Bobby C
BC
Hoeldtke
Nathan J
NJ
Napolitano
Peter G
PG
D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries; D002823:Chorion / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000032:analysis*; D010920:Placenta / Q000098:blood supply*; D011134:Polysaccharides; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000503:physiopathology; D011374:Progesterone / Q000502:physiology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis*
D015850:Interleukin-6; D011134:Polysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D011374:Progesterone