In-situ detection of both inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells during pregnancy

Leif Matthiesen, Mohsen Khademi, Christina Ekerfelt, Göran Berg, Surendra Sharma, Tomas Olsson, Jan Ernerudh

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Introduction: Local and possibly systemic curtailment of the maternal immune response is important for a successful pregnancy. Although the local milieu at the utero-placental interface is likely to harbor the most prominent alterations, it is suggested, at least in mice, that systemic immunity is also tolerized during pregnancy. In the present study, we investigated mRNA expression of the key immunomodulatory cytokines; interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon (IFN)-γ during normal pregnancy. Material and methods: In-situ hybridization (ISH) of cytokine mRNA in resting peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was used to detect the number of cells spontaneously expressing cytokines. Eleven women with normal gestations were followed during pregnancy as well as 8 weeks postpartum, and compared with 10 non-pregnant healthy controls. Results: The numbers of IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA expressing cells were found to be significantly increased during pregnancy and postpartum compared with non-pregnant controls. Pregnant women and non-pregnant controls did not differ in their expression of TNF-α and IL-10. Conclusion: Our studies demonstrated increased numbers of both IFN-γ and IL-4 mRNA expressing cells in blood suggesting that systemic immunomodulation, albeit partial, takes place during normal pregnancy. It is proposed that enhanced IL-4 expression, possibly in concert with other elevated anti-inflammatory immunomodulatory cytokines, curtail the potentially hazardous effects of IFN-γ on systemic immunity during pregnancy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)49-59
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Reproductive Immunology
Volume58
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2003
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • (IFN-γ)
  • (TNF-α)
  • Cytokine
  • Human pregnancy
  • IL-10
  • In-situ hybridization
  • Interferon-γ
  • Interleukin (IL)-4
  • Tumor necrosis factor-α
  • mRNA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology
  • Reproductive Medicine
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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