title: Natural antimicrobial production by the amnion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of natural antimicrobials in primary cultured amnion epithelial cells and to examine their regulation by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary amnion epithelial cells were cultured from samples that were obtained at prelabor cesarean section (n = 12) and stimulated with IL-1beta. Natural antimicrobial messenger RNA expression was determined by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and protein was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data was analyzed by analysis of variance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Primary amnion epithelial cells express messenger RNA for human beta defensin (HBD) 1 to 3, secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor and elafin, but not HBD4. IL-1beta 10 ng/mL stimulates HBD2 messenger RNA in a biphasic pattern, with a 51-fold increase at 6 hours and a 67-fold at 12 hours (P < .001). HBD2 protein production is significantly increased by 24 hours (P < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The amnion produces potent natural antimicrobials that may help protect the pregnancy from infection. HBD2 production is dramatically upregulated by the labor-associated inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK. sarah.stock@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: Sarah J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Stock
authors.forename: Rodney W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Simon C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Riley
authors.forename: Andrew A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Calder
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000166:cytology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D023082:Defensins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis
chemical_list: D023082:Defensins; D012333:RNA, Messenger