title: Baseline TNFα operational capacity in fetal and maternal circulation prior to the onset of labor: "tuned for different purposes".
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we sought to characterize the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) baseline operational capacity in mature fetuses and their mothers prior to the onset of labor.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used an experimental pregnant nonhuman primate model to measure the plasma concentration of TNFα, TNF transmembrane receptor I (TNFRI), and TNFRII with validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Coefficients of correlations between the maternal and the fetal values and the soluble TNFα, TNFRI, or TNFRII concentrations and ratios were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The TNFα/TNFRI ratio was 3 times lower in fetal circulation than in maternal circulation. No correlations were noted between the maternal and the fetal TNFα, TNFRI, or TNFRII plasma concentrations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the fetal and maternal baseline circulatory operational capacities of TNFα are independent of each other and tuned differently. This differential regulation of TNFα in fetal and maternal circulation at the end of pregnancy may be guided to protect the fetus from the systemic inflammatory response that is essential for the mechanisms of labor to proceed in the mother.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. santoljo@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Jacobo L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Santolaya
authors.forename: Lindsay
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kugler
authors.forename: Lissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Francois
authors.forename: Valeria Di
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Stefano
authors.forename: Gary A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Ebert
authors.forename: Roman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: Bingbing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Joaquín
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santolaya-Forgas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007745:Labor Onset / Q000097:blood*; D010215:Papio; D021041:Placental Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013997:Time Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
keywords: TNFα; TNFα receptors; baboon; fetal inflammatory response syndrome; sTNFRI; sTNFRII; sepsis; tumor necrosis factor α