Lipopolysaccharide induces normal human term placentae to secrete high levels of TNF? and IL-6 G. Holcberg , M. Huleihel , O. Sapir , S. Levi , M. Katz , L. Myatt , M. Mazor
Lipopolysaccharide induces normal human term placentae to secrete high levels of TNF? and IL-6 G. Holcberg , M. Huleihel , O. Sapir , S. Levi , M. Katz , L. Myatt , M. Mazor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Israel; University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
Objective. To examine the stimulatory effect of lipopolysaccha ride (LPS) on IL-6 and TNF? secretion in the isolated cotyledons of human term placentas. Study design. Isolated placental cotyledons were dually perfused in 5 normal term placentas obtained after birth. LPS (100 ng/kg) was perfused into the maternal site during 10 hours. Perfusate samples from fetal and maternal sites were collected every 30 min. The perfusates were examined by ELISA for IL-6 and TNF? levels. Statistical significance was determined by paired t test and ANOVA. Results. A significant increase in IL-6 and TNF? concentrations was observed within 8–10 hours of perfusion in maternal and fetal circulation in term placentas perfused with either or without LPS. The increase of TNF? and IL-6 in perfusate was time course dependent. The TNF? and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in maternal compartment after exposure to LPS as compared to control placentas (from 421 ± 217 pg/ml to 560 ± 202 pg/ml, p < 0,05 and from 971 ± 390 pg/ml to 2136 ± 688 pg/ml respectively, p < 0,05). The same pattern of LPS stimulation of TNF? and IL-6 was shown in the fetal compartment of the term placentas (from 20 ± 9 pg/ml to 53 ± 15 pg/ml, p < 0,05 and from 90 ± 39 pg/ml to 388 ± 154 pg/ml, p < 0,05 respectively). Conclusions. In normal human placentas the elevation of TNF? and IL-6 is time course dependent and increases after 10 hours of perfusion. LPS had significant increased the capacity of term placentas to secrete TNF? and IL-6. Thus, LPS may affect parturition by mechanisms that involve the regulation of cytokine production.