Diversity in cytokine response to bacteria associated with preterm birth by fetal membranes

• Published in: American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 201; no. 3; pp. 306.e1 - 306.e6
• Main Authors: Menon, Ramkumar, PhD, Peltier, Morgan R., PhD, Eckardt, Judith, MD, Fortunato, Stephen J., MD
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.09.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: amniochorion; Amniotic Fluid - microbiology; Biological and medical sciences; Cytokines - analysis; Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy; Escherichia coli; Extraembryonic Membranes - microbiology; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; inflammation; Interferon-gamma - analysis; Interleukin-10 - analysis; intraamniotic infection; Lipopolysaccharides; Medical sciences; Obstetrics and Gynecology; Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta; Premature Birth - immunology; Premature Birth - microbiology; preterm birth; prostaglandins; Streptococcus agalactiae; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - analysis; Ureaplasma; preterm birth; prostaglandins; amniochorion; inflammation; intraamniotic infection; Pregnancy disorders; Prematurity; Fetal membrane; Gynecology; Cytokine; Premature delivery; Bacteria; Fetoplacental membrane; Obstetrics
• ISSN: 0002-9378; 1097-6868
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2009.06.027

Objective This study compared cytokine and prostaglandin (PG) responses by fetal membranes stimulated with 4 different bacterial species associated with preterm birth (PTB). Study Design Fetal membranes (n = 13 from normal term cesarean sections [not in labor]) in an organ explant system were stimulated with heat-killed Ureaplasma parvum , Gardanerella vaginalis , Escherichia coli , group B Streptococcus (GBS), or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α, and interferon-γ) and PG (PGF2α and PGE2 ) concentrations were quantitated and compared. Results LPS and E coli increased all cytokine and PG productions compared with controls. Cytokine profiles were similar after G vaginalis and GBS stimulation. G vaginalis increased PGE2 , whereas GBS increased PGF2α. U parvum demonstrated the mildest response with only IL-10 and TNF-α concentrations being higher with no detectible effect on PGs. Conclusion Fetal membrane cytokine signatures of 4 different bacteria associated with PTB are distinct, suggesting that infection as a potential cause of PTB is not homogeneous in its presentation.