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Updated: Jul 11, 2026
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Interleukin-18 and interleukin-12 in maternal serum and spontaneous preterm delivery
C K Ekelund1, I Vogel, K Skogstrand
1North Atlantic Neuro-Epidemiology Alliances, Institute of Public Health, University of Aarhus, Vennelyst Boulevard 6, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark. ekelund@dadlnet.dk
Introduction:
Mice disrupted for the interleukin (IL)-18 gene appear more disposed to preterm delivery (PTD) induced by inflammation. A synergy between IL-18 and IL-12 has been suggested. The objective of this study was to investigate a possible relation between human maternal serum levels of IL-18, IL-12 and spontaneous PTD.
Materials And Methods:
A cohort of 93 consecutive women with symptoms of threatening PTD on admission was enrolled at the delivery ward, Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
Measures:
Serum IL-18 and IL-12 measured using Luminex xMAP technology. Endpoint: PTD before 34 weeks gestation.
Results:
Pregnant women admitted with symptoms of threatening PTD and delivering before 34 weeks of gestation had significantly lower levels of IL-18 compared to women delivering at or after 34 weeks of gestation (medians: 14.5 versus 26.6 pg/ml; p=0.035). IL-12 levels were not different in women delivering before or after 34 weeks of gestation. Patients having low IL-18 (below the 25-percentile) and high IL-12 (above the 75-percentile) had a twofold increase in risk of delivering before 34 weeks of gestation (RR 2.1 [1.7-2.6]).
Conclusion:
Results from this study indicate, that low serum IL-18 level could be associated with PTD in women with symptoms of PTD. A possible interaction between IL-18 and IL-12 was found, as the risk of delivering before 34 weeks is increased with the combination of low IL-18 and high IL-12, but further studies are warranted to investigate these interleukins and their possible role in PTD.
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