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Published on: September 26, 2013
Low serum interleukin-17 is associated with preterm delivery
Lene Hee1, Ida Kirkegaard, Ida Vogel
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus University Hospital, Skejby, Denmark. lenehee@hotmail.com
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|February 1, 2011
Summary
Maternal serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels are significantly lower in women experiencing preterm delivery. This finding suggests a potential role for IL-17 in the complex mechanisms of preterm birth.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Reproductive Medicine
- Obstetrics
Background:
- Interleukin-17 (IL-17) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine with known roles in various immune responses.
- The role of IL-17 in pregnancy, particularly in the context of preterm delivery, requires further elucidation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate maternal serum IL-17 levels throughout normal pregnancy.
- To determine the association between maternal serum IL-17 and the occurrence of preterm delivery.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study conducted at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
- Serum IL-17 levels were measured using a developed multiplex sandwich immunoassay.
- Included a low-risk cohort (n=1,069), a longitudinal subgroup (n=40), and a symptomatic cohort (n=93) admitted for preterm delivery symptoms.
Main Results:
- Maternal serum IL-17 levels remained stable during normal pregnancy.
- Significantly decreased serum IL-17 was observed in women with preterm contractions and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes compared to normal pregnancies.
- Women delivering preterm exhibited significantly lower serum IL-17 levels compared to those delivering at term.
Conclusions:
- Maternal serum IL-17 levels may play a role in the pathophysiology of preterm delivery.
- The observed decrease in IL-17 in preterm delivery warrants further investigation into its specific involvement.
