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Macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in first trimester maternal serum: correlation with pathologic pregnancy
Christel Eckmann-Scholz1, Christina Wilke2, Yahya Acil3
1Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel and Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Straße 3, 24105, Kiel, Germany. christel.eckmann@uksh.de.
Purpose:
To determine correlations between macrophage colony-stimulating factor (MCSF) levels in maternal blood during first trimester screening with respect to normal and pathological pregnancies.
Methods:
This was a prospective single centre study. First trimester screening was performed according to FMF London certificates. Nuchal translucency, PAPP-A and free β-HCG were obtained as well as M-CSF serum levels in maternal blood. Fetal karyotyping was achieved by chorionic villi sampling.
Results:
125 patients were enrolled in this study. 21 pregnancies had confirmed aberrant karyotypes. Trisomy 21 cases showed significantly elevated M-CSF levels of 270 ± 91 pg/ml (p = 0.032), whereas cases of trisomy 13 (183 ± 68 pg/ml) and trisomy 18 (143 ± 40 pg/ml) had low M-CSF levels. Furthermore M-CSF levels tended to be low in preterm deliveries, placental insufficiency and nicotine consumption. In cases with gestational diabetes M-CSF tended to be elevated. Furthermore we found a positive correlation between high free β-human chorionic gonadotropin (hcg) and MCSF values. There was no correlation between pregnancy associated plasma protein (PAPP-A) and M-CSF.
Conclusions:
M-CSF is a cytokine promoting placental growth and differentiation. M-CSF is known to be involved in the process of implantation in pregnancy. The role of M-CSF with respect to disturbed pregnancy outcomes such as placental insufficiency in normal or aberrant karyotypes, for example, is yet subject to further research.
