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Updated: May 31, 2026
07:51
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Murine Tissues at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Interleukin-19 in fetal systemic inflammation.
Zeynep Alpay Savasan1, Tinnakorn Chaiworapongsa, Roberto Romero
1Perinatology Research Branch, NICHD/NIH/DHHS, Detroit, Michigan 48201, USA.
Summary
Elevated levels of Interleukin-19 (IL-19) and Interleukin-10 (IL-10) in umbilical cord plasma are associated with funisitis, a condition indicating fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) in preterm neonates.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal immunology
- Fetal medicine
- Inflammatory response syndromes
Background:
- Fetal inflammatory response syndrome (FIRS) is the fetal equivalent of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS).
- While pro-inflammatory signals initiate FIRS, anti-inflammatory mediators are crucial for successful outcomes.
- Interleukin-19 (IL-19) stimulates IL-10 production, a key anti-inflammatory cytokine, and promotes T-helper 2 (Th2) responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate changes in umbilical cord plasma IL-19 and IL-10 concentrations in preterm neonates.
- To compare these levels between neonates with and without acute funisitis, the histological marker of FIRS.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involved 80 preterm neonates, matched for gestational age.
- Neonates were divided into two groups: 40 with funisitis and 40 without.
- Umbilical cord plasma concentrations of IL-19 and IL-10 were measured using ELISA.
Main Results:
- Neonates with funisitis exhibited a 2.5-fold higher median umbilical cord plasma IL-19 concentration compared to those without (87 pg/mL vs. 37 pg/mL).
- Significantly elevated median umbilical cord plasma IL-10 concentrations were observed in newborns with funisitis (4 pg/mL vs. 2 pg/mL).
- These findings remained consistent even when considering only FIRS cases defined by IL-6 levels.
Conclusions:
- IL-19 and IL-10 are integral components of the fetal inflammatory response in FIRS.
- A subset of fetuses experiencing FIRS demonstrated high umbilical cord plasma IL-19 levels.
- In utero exposure to elevated systemic IL-19 may potentially alter the fetal immune response programming.
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