Cervical anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations among first-trimester pregnant smokers.
OBJECTIVE
Anti-inflammatory cytokines play a role in the lower genital tract immune defense. We examined the impact of cigarette smoking in pregnancy on the detection of the 3 most important anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-4, -10, and -13) in the cervix.


METHODS
One hundred fourteen gravid women from 4 to 16 weeks of gestation without bacterial vaginosis or sexually transmitted disease were queried regarding demographic factors and smoking. Concentrations of cytokines were determined with a multiplex assay for cervical swabs.


RESULTS
There was a positive linear relationship between the number of cigarettes that were smoked per day and cervical concentrations of interleukin-4, -10, and -13 (P < .001 for each). Median concentrations of interleukin-4 and -10 were greater among women who smoked > or = 20 cigarettes per day than among non-smokers or less heavy smokers (P < .05 for both). There was no difference in concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines between smokers and non-smokers.


CONCLUSIONS
Cigarette smoking in pregnancy is associated with an increase of cervical anti-inflammatory cytokines without a commensurate increase of proinflammatory cytokines. This may have important impact on the host response to infection.
Simhan
Hyagriv N
HN
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
Caritis
Steve N
SN
Hillier
Sharon L
SL
Krohn
Marijane A
MA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology*; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000378:metabolism; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000378:metabolism; D018793:Interleukin-13 / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D007378:Interleukins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000276:immunology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D018793:Interleukin-13; D007378:Interleukins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4