Longitudinal modulation of immune system cytokine profile during pregnancy.
OBJECTIVE
To characterize immune modulation as expressed by cytokine assays at three time-points in human pregnancy.


METHODS
This is a prospective, longitudinal study of a broad panel of cytokine expression during singleton pregnancies resulting in an uncomplicated, full-term, live births. Peripheral blood was obtained at 8-14, 18-22, and 28-32 weeks gestation. Six cytokines - IFN-γ, IL-4, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10 - were measured in supernatants obtained from whole blood stimulations with PHA or LPS and were compared to unstimulated controls. Samples were processed by Luminex-100 MAP®. We used Generalized Linear Models (GLM) to evaluate cytokine trajectories.


RESULTS
Complete data were obtained for 45 uncomplicated pregnancies. Overall, peripheral blood WBC's demonstrated dampened cytokine responses. However, over the course of pregnancy, we found enhanced counter-regulatory cytokine expression (e.g., shown by increased IL-10).


CONCLUSIONS
The overall decrease in pro-inflammatory cytokines and increase in counter-regulatory cytokines as uncomplicated pregnancy progresses supports the evolving concepts of immunoregulation for the maintenance of a viable pregnancy.
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Adolescent Medicine, PA, USA. jeffmdenney@gmail.com
Jeffrey M
JM
Denney
Edward L
EL
Nelson
Pathik D
PD
Wadhwa
Thaddeus P
TP
Waters
Leny
L
Mathew
Esther K
EK
Chung
Robert L
RL
Goldenberg
Jennifer F
JF
Culhane
D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology*; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000276:immunology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000276:immunology; D016014:Linear Models; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D018448:Models, Immunological; D011247:Pregnancy; D011264:Pregnancy Trimesters / Q000276:immunology*; D018417:Th1 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D018418:Th2 Cells / Q000276:immunology; D055815:Young Adult
D016207:Cytokines