Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 15, 2025
08:19
Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
16.4K
Cytokine levels throughout the perinatal period
Tiffany A Moore1, Adam J Case2
1College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.
Summary
This study tracked 29 cytokine levels in mothers and newborns, finding most were highest in neonates. No significant differences were observed between pregnancies with or without major complications.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Perinatal Medicine
- Reproductive Biology
Background:
- Inflammatory processes are implicated in perinatal complications.
- Comprehensive data on cytokine profiles throughout the perinatal period is limited.
- This study addresses the gap by examining serial cytokine levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To prospectively measure and analyze serial levels of 29 cytokines during pregnancy, at birth (cord blood), and in neonates.
- To compare cytokine profiles between pregnancies with and without major complications.
- To understand the dynamics of inflammatory markers in the perinatal period.
Main Methods:
- Prospective enrollment of 140 pregnant women.
- Serial blood collection at five timepoints: 12-20 weeks, 24-28 weeks, labor, cord blood, and neonatal blood (24-72h).
- Analysis of 29 cytokines using electrochemiluminescence-based immunoassay.
Main Results:
- Eighteen cytokines exhibited significant changes over time (p < .002).
- The majority of measured cytokines were highest in neonatal blood.
- No significant differences in cytokine levels were detected between pregnancies with (n=82) and without (n=53) major complications.
Conclusions:
- This is the first study to report serial cytokine levels throughout the perinatal period, comparing pregnancies with and without complications.
- Maternal cytokine levels did not differ between complication groups, suggesting potential limitations in using maternal blood for prediction.
- Findings suggest that cytokine dysregulation might be more localized to the placenta, posing challenges for detection via maternal systemic blood.
Related Concept Videos
01:22Development of Immunocompetence
578
The initiation of cell-mediated immunity can be observed as early as the third month of fetal growth, with active antibody-mediated immunity following approximately one month later.
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
The initial cells that migrate from the fetal thymus settle within the skin and epithelial tissues lining the mouth, digestive tract, and in females, the uterus and vagina. These cells, including skin-based dendritic cells, serve as antigen-presenting cells, playing a key role in T cell activation.
Subsequent T...
578
01:15Transcytosis of IgG
3.7K
Transcytosis is the process in which molecules are internalized by endocytosis, transported across the cell, and released through exocytosis from the opposite end of the cell. Molecules such as insulin, immunoglobulins, and certain nutrients are transferred through the recycling endosomes by recycling and transcytosis.
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
IgG molecules from a mother undergo transcytosis starting around 13 weeks of gestation. The amount of IgG transferred and entering the fetal blood circulation increases with...
3.7K