Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Cytokine Profiles of Trophoblast Antigen-Stimulated Maternal Lymphocytes

Abstract EN

Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) is an important perinatal syndrome that poses several serious short- and long-term effects.

We studied cytokine production by maternal peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated by trophoblast antigens.

36 women with a diagnosis of IUGR and 22 healthy women with normal fetal growth were inducted.

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were stimulated with trophoblast antigens and levels of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, IL-23, IFNγ, and TNFα and the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4, IL-10, and IL-13 were measured in culture supernatants by ELISA.

IL-8 was produced at higher levels by blood cells of the IUGR group than normal pregnant women, while IL-13 was produced at lower levels.

IL-8, IFNγ, and TNFα were higher in IUGR with placental insufficiency than in normal pregnancy.

IL-12 levels were higher and IL-10 levels were lower in IUGR with placental insufficiency than in IUGR without placental insufficiency.

We suggest that a stronger pro-inflammatory bias exists in IUGR as compared to normal pregnancy and in IUGR with placental insufficiency when compared to IUGR without placental insufficiency.

Several ratios of proinflammatory to anti-inflammatory cytokines also support the existence of an inflammatory bias in IUGR.