title: The effect of coelomic fluid on the production of cytokines by the first trimester human placenta.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the modulatory effects of coelomic fluid (CF) on the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) and its receptors, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2, interferon gamma (IFNγ) and interleukin (IL)-10 by placental villous explants cultured under physiological oxygen (O(2)) concentration.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro culture of placental villous explants at atmospheric and physiological (6%) O(2) levels at varying concentrations of CF.
  
  
  METHODS
  Concentration of TNFα, TNF-R1, TNF-R2, IFNγ and IL-10 in culture medium and villous explant homogenates, measured using flowcytometric bead arrays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median level and interquartile range of cytokines and receptors present in CF were: TNFα 0.9 pg/ml (0.85, 0.95); IFNγ 5.38 pg/ml (4.96, 6.18); IL-10 1.59 pg/ml (1.45, 1.76); TNF-R1 6043.65 pg/ml (5961.39, 6187.35) and TNF-R2 3563.52 pg/ml (3390.26, 3635.19). The PO(2) of CF was 48.74 mmHg (SEM 1.59), equivalent to 6% O(2). Increasing doses of CF significantly (p < 0.05) increased the levels of TNFα, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2 in the culture medium at both O(2) concentrations. TNF-R1 levels measured in placental homogenate increased up to 2-fold at both O(2) concentrations, but were significantly lower (1.96 fold; p = 0.03) at 6% O(2) compared to 20% O(2).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The exocoelomic cavity in humans contains high levels of both soluble TNF-R1 and TNF-R2. The addition of CF to placental tissue explants in culture modulates the placental secretion of TNFα-receptors and TNFα at both physiological and atmospheric O(2) tension resulting in a concentration much higher than that found in the CF. This may contribute to the maternal inflammatory response previously reported in normal early pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University College London, Institute for Women's Health, 86-96 Chenies Mews, WC1E 6HX London, United Kingdom. j.calleja-agius@ucl.ac.uk
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Calleja-Agius
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muttukrishna
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jauniaux
mesh_terms: D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D045604:Extracellular Fluid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000494:pharmacology; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011261:Pregnancy Trimester, First / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D016207:Cytokines; D018121:Receptors, Cytokine; D010100:Oxygen