Correlation of human decidual and cord blood mononuclear cell cytokine production
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Updated: Aug 20, 2026
Isolation of Primary Human Decidual Cells from the Fetal Membranes of Term Placentae
Published on: April 30, 2018
Mark Brown1, Monica Gustafson, Sandra Saldãna
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Arizona Health Science Center, Tucson, AZ, USA. mabrown@resp-sci.arizona.edu
Insights
Maternal allergy influences neonatal cytokine profiles, linking decidual and cord blood mononuclear cell (CBMC) production of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ). Allergic mothers show altered IL-13/IL-4 ratios and increased neonatal IL-5 and IL-13 production.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Maternal-Fetal Medicine
- Allergy Research
Background:
- Decidua produces cytokines influencing fetal immune development.
- Investigating maternal allergy's impact on immune profiles is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if decidual cytokine production affects cord blood mononuclear cell (CBMC) cytokine production.
- To compare cytokine profiles in decidua from allergic versus non-allergic women.
- To investigate the link between maternal allergy and neonatal immune responses.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured cytokine production (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, IFN-γ).
- Decidual explants and CBMCs from 59 healthy women were analyzed.
- Stimulated and unstimulated cytokine production was assessed.
Main Results:
- Strong correlation between stimulated decidual and CBMC interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) production.
- Allergic women showed an increased IL-13 to IL-4 ratio in stimulated decidual explants.
- Neonates of allergic mothers had higher likelihood of producing IL-5 and potentially IL-13.
Conclusions:
- Maternal and fetal IFN-γ production are closely linked.
- Maternal allergy significantly influences neonatal cytokine production, specifically IL-5 and possibly IL-13.
- Decidual cytokine profiles may impact fetal immune development in the context of maternal allergy.
Abstract:
Human decidua has been shown to produce a number of cytokines. We hypothesized that decidual cytokine production influences cord blood mononuclear cell (CBMC) cytokine production and that cytokine profiles of decidua from allergic women differ from those of decidua from nonallergic women. Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we measured unstimulated and concanavalin A/phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated production of interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-10, IL-13 and interferon- gamma (IFN-gamma) by decidual explants from 59 healthy women delivered by unlabored cesarean section and from corresponding CBMCs in 39 of the 59. Except for IL-10, there was little or no unstimulated cytokine production. There was a strong correlation between stimulated decidual and stimulated CBMC IFN-gamma production (p = 0.01). In allergic women the ratio of IL-13 to IL-4 production was increased in stimulated explants (p = 0.03). Stimulated CBMCs from infants of allergic mothers were more likely to produce detectable levels of IL-5 than those from infants of nonallergic mothers (p = 0.04) and had a tendency toward higher IL-13 levels as well (p = 0.07). These results suggest that maternal and fetal IFN-gamma production is closely linked and that maternal allergy appears to influence cytokine production in the neonate for IL-5 and possibly IL-13.
