S W Kauma1, Y Wang, S W Walsh. 1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond 23298, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The etiology of preeclampsia is poorly understood, but may involve abnormal fetal-maternal immunologic interactions. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional immunologic cytokine that is normally produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Recent studies have shown that amniotic fluid IL-6 is decreased in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Consequently, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that placental IL-6 production is decreased in preeclampsia. METHODS: Placental explants from normal (N = 6) and preeclamptic (N = 6) pregnancies were cultured in vitro, and the media were sampled at 0, 2, 6, 16, 28, and 48 hours. Production rates of IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and relative IL-6 mRNA expression was measured by Northern and dot blot analyses. RESULTS: Production rates of IL-6 were 2.3-fold lower in preeclamptic placentas than in normal placentas, at 146 pg/microgram/hour versus 341 pg/microgram/hour (P < .05). However, relative steady-state IL-6 mRNA expression was identical in preeclamptic and normal placentas. CONCLUSIONS: Placental IL-6 production is decreased in preeclampsia. The decrease in placental IL-6 production and secretion in preeclampsia is regulated by a post-transcriptional mechanism.
OBJECTIVE: The etiology of preeclampsia is poorly understood, but may involve abnormal fetal-maternal immunologic interactions. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a multifunctional immunologic cytokine that is normally produced by the placenta during pregnancy. Recent studies have shown that amniotic fluid IL-6 is decreased in pregnancies complicated by preeclampsia. Consequently, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that placental IL-6 production is decreased in preeclampsia. METHODS: Placental explants from normal (N = 6) and preeclamptic (N = 6) pregnancies were cultured in vitro, and the media were sampled at 0, 2, 6, 16, 28, and 48 hours. Production rates of IL-6 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and relative IL-6 mRNA expression was measured by Northern and dot blot analyses. RESULTS: Production rates of IL-6 were 2.3-fold lower in preeclamptic placentas than in normal placentas, at 146 pg/microgram/hour versus 341 pg/microgram/hour (P < .05). However, relative steady-state IL-6 mRNA expression was identical in preeclamptic and normal placentas. CONCLUSIONS: Placental IL-6 production is decreased in preeclampsia. The decrease in placental IL-6 production and secretion in preeclampsia is regulated by a post-transcriptional mechanism.
Authors: Charles J Lockwood; Chih-Feng Yen; Murat Basar; Umit A Kayisli; Maritza Martel; Irina Buhimschi; Catalin Buhimschi; S Joseph Huang; Graciela Krikun; Frederick Schatz Journal: Am J Pathol Date: 2008-05-08 Impact factor: 4.307
Authors: Jacek R Wilczyński; Henryk Tchórzewski; Ewa Głowacka; Małgorzata Banasik; Przemyslaw Lewkowicz; Marian Szpakowski; Krzysztof Zeman; Jan Wilczyński Journal: Mediators Inflamm Date: 2002-04 Impact factor: 4.711