Interleukin-18 and interleukin-12 in maternal serum and spontaneous preterm delivery.
BACKGROUND
Mice disrupted for the interleukin (IL)-18 gene appear more disposed to preterm delivery (PTD) induced by inflammation. A synergy between IL-18 and IL-12 has been suggested. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible relation between human maternal serum levels of IL-18, IL-12 and spontaneous PTD.


METHODS
A cohort of 93 consecutive women with symptoms of threatening PTD on admission was enrolled at the delivery ward, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.


METHODS
Serum IL-18 and IL-12 measured using Luminex xMAP technology. Endpoint: PTD before 34 weeks gestation.


RESULTS
Pregnant women admitted with symptoms of threatening PTD and delivering before 34 weeks of gestation had significantly lower levels of IL-18 compared to women delivering at or after 34 weeks of gestation (medians: 14.5 versus 26.6 pg/ml; p=0.035). IL-12 levels were not different in women delivering before or after 34 weeks of gestation. Patients having low IL-18 (below the 25-percentile) and high IL-12 (above the 75-percentile) had a twofold increase in risk of delivering before 34 weeks of gestation (RR 2.1 [1.7-2.6]).


CONCLUSIONS
Results from this study indicate, that low serum IL-18 level could be associated with PTD in women with symptoms of PTD. A possible interaction between IL-18 and IL-12 was found, as the risk of delivering before 34 weeks is increased with the combination of low IL-18 and high IL-12, but further studies are warranted to investigate these interleukins and their possible role in PTD.
Ekelund
C K
CK
North Atlantic Neuro-Epidemiology Alliances, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark. ekelund@dadlnet.dk
Vogel
I
I
Skogstrand
K
K
Thorsen
P
P
Hougaard
D M
DM
Langhoff-Roos
J
J
Jacobsson
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D018664:Interleukin-12 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D020382:Interleukin-18 / Q000097:blood* / Q000276:immunology; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors
D020382:Interleukin-18; D018664:Interleukin-12