The potential role of prolactin as a modulator of the secretion of proinflammatory mediators in chorioamniotic membranes in term human gestation.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effect of prolactin (PRL) on expression of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9) in vitro.


METHODS
Tissue explants were incubated from 4 to 48 hours alone or in the presence of 500 ng/mL PRL, and mRNA expression in tissues and secretion of interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), MMP-2, and MMP-9 was quantified.


RESULTS
Fetal membranes secreted IL-1β, TNF-α, and MMP-9 in culture with consistent low concentration during the first 24 hours and then increased progressively. The presence of PRL during explant incubation significantly decreased the patterns of IL-1β, TNF-α and MMP-9 secretion along culture (P < .001). MMP-2 secretion was unaffected by PRL. The relative basal expression of IL-1β mRNA (1.2 ± 0.87) was reduced by 80% in the presence of PRL after 32 hours of incubation of the membranes (P = .001). The expression of the TNF-α mRNA was not modified by the presence of PRL (0.06 ± 0.01) compared with the basal expression levels (0.05 ± 0.01). MMP-9 mRNA basal expression (0.018 ± 0.008) was significantly reduced (P = .001) in the presence of PRL after 32 hours (0.002 ± 0.0005).


CONCLUSIONS
PRL may be a potential candidate as a key signal controlling the expression of signals related to the proinflammatory reaction associated with human labor.
Department of Cell Biology, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Mexico City, Mexico.
Veronica
V
Zaga-Clavellina
Department of Endocrinology, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Mexico City, Mexico.
Adalberto
A
Parra-Covarrubias
Department of Rheumatology, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Mexico City, Mexico.
Jorge
J
Ramirez-Peredo
Department of Nutrition, Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, Mexico City, Mexico.
Rodrigo
R
Vega-Sanchez
Unidad de Vinculación Faculty of Medicine, UNAM en el INMEGEN, Mexico City, Mexico.
Felipe
F
Vadillo-Ortega
D000328:Adult; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000378:metabolism*; D007743:Labor, Obstetric / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D047929:Term Birth / Q000378:metabolism*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D011388:Prolactin; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9
amniochorion; human labor; inflammation; prolactin