Suppression of IL-2 and IFN-gamma production in women with spontaneous preterm labor.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the TH-1/TH-2 cytokine pattern in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in late second- and third trimester in normal pregnancies, in comparison to patients with spontaneous preterm delivery (PTD; < 37 completed weeks' gestation).


METHODS
A cross-sectional retrospective study was performed in a tertiary care obstetric unit with healthy non-pregnant women (n=7); healthy pregnant women (n=25); patients (n=25) with preterm labor (defined as uterine contractions or changes in cervical length). The phenotypic analysis of TH-1/TH-2 immune deviation was examined in PBL.


RESULTS
26% PTD (n=13) were recorded. Patients delivering at term (n=37, 74%) were characterized by an upregulation of IL-2, IFN-gamma and IL-4 production during weeks 20-25, followed by a strong suppression in cytokine production, except for TGF-beta. Towards the end of pregnancy cytokine levels returned to normal as observed in non-pregnant women. In contrast, PTD showed an inverse pattern for IL-2 and IFN-gamma with marked suppression in IL-2 and IFN-gamma production between weeks 20-25, followed by a strong stimulation of these cytokines. No differences were observed in IL-4 and TGF-beta production.


CONCLUSIONS
An inverse pattern in IL-2 and IFN-gamma production in PBLs between weeks 20-30 is seen in PTD as compared to patients delivering at term.
Department of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, Central Laboratory, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Baldingerstrasse, 35033 Marburg, Germany. renzh@med.uni-marburg.de
Cathrin
C
Wilke
Harald
H
Renz
Ismail
I
Tekesin
Lars
L
Hellmeyer
Udo
U
Herz
Stephan
S
Schmidt
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology*; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D047928:Premature Birth; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000276:immunology; D015854:Up-Regulation
D007376:Interleukin-2; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma