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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Isolation of Leukocytes from the Human Maternal-fetal Interface
Published on: May 21, 2015
Interleukin-8 is a mediator of the final cervical ripening in humans
M K Sennström1, A Brauner, Y Lu
1Department of Women and Child Health, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden. jacob@mail.oden.se
Objective:
The aim of the present study was to investigate the presence of interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the human cervix and whether the levels of interleukin-8 could be related to the ripening process during pregnancy.
Study Design:
Cervical biopsies were obtained in twelve term pregnant and in eight vaginally delivered women. Seven non-pregnant fertile women served as controls. After homogenisation and centrifugation, IL-8 levels were determined in the supernatant by an enzyme-immunoassay (EIA).
Results:
In women at term, the concentration of IL-8 increased six-fold from median 330 pg/ml to median 2190 pg/ml (P < 0.001). After the final cervical ripening it increased in additional 11-fold to median 26,100 pg/ml (P < 0.001). These changes are highly significant.
Conclusion:
To our knowledge, this is the first time IL-8 has been identified in human cervix. Our results support the involvement of IL-8 in the connective tissue remodelling during the final cervical ripening just before onset of labour.
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