title: Analysis of the concentrations of interleukin 15 in amniotic fluid in the second and the third trimesters of pregnancy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cytokines play an essential role in the regulation of immunological responses. Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is a glycoprotein secreted primarily by macrophages and monocytes. IL-15 plays a key role in the immunological response of the cellular type.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the concentration of interleukin 15 in amniotic fluid in the second and the third trimesters ofa normal pregnancy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 74 pregnant women who were subjected to a diagnostic amniocentesis in order to extract amniotic fluid samples. The patients were divided into two groups: group I - 45 pregnant women in the 2nd trimester, subjected to genetic amniocentesis during the 15th through 19th weeks. The results of the cytogenetic tests were found to be normal in all the fetuses. Group II: 29 pregnant women in their 3rd trimester, were subjected to amniocentesis in order to determine the biological maturity of the fetuses. The concentration of IL-15 was marked with the ELISA method using a kit made by the R&D company. Method sensitivity was > 2 pg/ml.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average concentration of IL-15 in the amniotic fluid of 2nd trimester pregnancies was 6.54 pg/ ml, whereas in the 3rd trimester it rose to 18.62 pg/ml. Discrepancies were found to be statistically significant (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of IL-15 in the amniotic fluid in the second trimester of gestation indicates an early activation of the fetus's defensive mechanisms. An average concentration of IL-15 in the amniotic fluid is significantly higher in the third trimester of pregnancy than in the second trimester, which can mean about the development of the immune response in the fetus.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland. nikablok@o2.pl
authors.forename: Dominika
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klimkiewicz-Blok
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Florjański
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zalewski
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blok
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000649:Amniocentesis; D000653:Amniotic Fluid / Q000276:immunology*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019409:Interleukin-15 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland; D011247:Pregnancy; D011262:Pregnancy Trimester, Second; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D015854:Up-Regulation; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C569274:IL15 protein, human; D019409:Interleukin-15