Transient lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine responses in the maternal serum and amniotic fluid of the guinea pig.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to characterize the pregnant guinea pig cytokine time course following a maternal inflammatory insult.


METHODS
Pregnant guinea pigs (n = 34) were injected intraperitoneally with 100 microg/kg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 70% gestation and euthanized at 24 hours, 48 hours, or 5 days. Control animals were euthanized at 70% gestation without LPS exposure. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were quantified in the maternal serum and amniotic fluid by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.


RESULTS
IL-6 and IL-1beta concentrations were elevated in the maternal serum at 24 hours and returned to control levels by 5 days. In the amniotic fluid, IL-6 peaked at 48 hours and IL-1beta at 24 hours. TNF-alpha levels were not significantly increased.


CONCLUSIONS
Maternal intraperitoneal LPS injection produces transient increases in cytokine concentrations in the maternal serum and amniotic fluid within 5 days, further implicating the cytokines as mediators of fetal white matter damage.
Dickinson
Michelle A
MA
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada.
Harnett
Erica L
EL
Venditti
Carolina C
CC
Smith
Graeme N
GN
D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha