title: Interleukin-22: biomarker of maternal and fetal inflammation?
abstract: Histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) is an intrauterine status of inflammation which may lead to the fetal inflammatory response syndrome. Inflammation is a pathogenetic mechanism also of preeclampsia, although not of microbial origin. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the pattern of inflammatory cytokines in mothers and high-risk preterm infants during the perinatal period. Concentrations of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein were evaluated in maternal, cord, and neonatal blood of very preterm infants <1,500 g birth weight. Histologic examinations of placentae and umbilical cords were performed. The 65 mother-neonate pairs enrolled were subdivided into three groups: (1) HCA group (n = 15), (2) preeclampsia group (n = 17), and (3) control group, in the absence of HCA/preeclampsia (n = 33). Maternal Interleukin (IL)-6 levels were significantly higher in women of the HCA group compared with the preeclampsia and control groups (p < 0.05). IL-22 was detected in nearly all maternal samples [median value 693.115 pg/ml (599.91-809.91 pg/ml)], with no statistical difference between the groups, but with a tendency to increased levels among preeclamptic women. Increased concentrations of IL-22 were detected in cord blood of neonates exposed to preeclampsia, compared with controls and infants exposed to HCA (p < 0.05). We speculate that the tendentially higher concentrations of IL-22 in preeclamptic mothers and the significantly higher concentrations in cord blood may reflect placental dysfunction and the underlying reparative processes at the maternal-fetal interface. Therefore, IL-22 could be an important biomarker of inflammation in preeclampsia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Neonatology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Iliana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bersani
authors.forename: Maria Pia
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: De Carolis
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foell
authors.forename: Toni
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Weinhage
authors.forename: Esther Diana
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Carolis
authors.forename: Serena Antonia
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Rubortone
authors.forename: Costantino
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romagnoli
authors.forename: Christian Paul
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Speer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D002821:Chorioamnionitis / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005312:Fetal Blood; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010920:Placenta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D000097043:Interleukin-22
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D016207:Cytokines; D007378:Interleukins; D000097043:Interleukin-22