| Abstract: | ![]()
PROBLEM : Inflammation of human gestational tissues is a key pathophysiologic event in the genesis of infection-associated preterm labor. Human gestational tissues produce several inflammatory cytokines after stimulation with bacterial products. These include interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), and IL-6. Another class of cytokines includes chemokines of the “C-C” subclassification such as macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MlP-1α). The purpose of this study was to determine whether cultured human decidual cells produce MIP-1α in response to other inflammatory cytokines. METHODS : Various concentrations of IL-1β, TNFα, IL-6, and IL-4 were incubated with confluent monolayer cultures of decidual cells isolated from normal term placentae for 16 h at 37°C, and MlP-1α concentrations in culture supernatants were measured by ELISA. RESULTS : We found that incubation of decidual cells with IL-1β, TNFα, and IL-4 resulted in significant concentration-dependent increases in M1P-1α production. IL-6 had no effect on MlP-1α production. CONCLUSIONS : Our data are the first to show that human decidual cells in culture produce MlP-1α in response to other inflammatory cytokines. We suggest that decidual cell production of MIP-1α is an important early event in the pathophysiology of infection-associated preterm labor. |
