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Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in human cervicovaginal fluid in term pregnancy and labor
Yujing J Heng1, Megan K W Di Quinzio, Michael Permezel
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
Objective:
The objective of the study was to investigate temporal changes in interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) in human cervicovaginal fluid (CVF) in term pregnancy and labor.
Study Design:
CVF was collected weekly from 155 multiparous women from 36 weeks' gestation until labor. High vaginal swabs were collected for microbiology assessment.
Results:
IL-1ra was decreased in spontaneous term labor, compared with 15-21 and 22-28 days from labor, and was significantly lower at 0-7 days, compared with 15-21 days before labor (P < .05, 2-way ANOVA). After subdividing the women, IL-1ra concentrations were 6-fold lower in women who had prelabor rupture of membranes at term than women who had spontaneous labor with intact membranes at 8-14 and 15-21 days before labor (P < .05, Student t test). IL-1ra concentrations were not affected by the microbial status of the vagina.
Conclusions:
The changes in IL-1ra concentrations observed in the CVF may be linked to the remodeling of fetal membranes leading to rupture.
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