Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2026
In Vitro Culture of Epithelial Cells from Different Anatomical Regions of the Human Amniotic Membrane
Published on: November 28, 2019
Ex vivo cytokine production by whole mid-trimester amniotic fluid
Devrim Sezen1, Ann Marie Bongiovanni, Claudel Jean-Pierre
1Division of Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA.
Insights
Ex vivo amniotic fluid culture reveals distinct immune mediator profiles compared to unincubated samples. This method may offer a more accurate prediction of spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) risk.
Area of Science:
- Reproductive immunology
- Perinatal medicine
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Amniotic fluid immune mediators play a role in pregnancy outcomes.
- Assessing intraamniotic immune mediator production ex vivo may differ from static measurements.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in immune mediator profiles between ex vivo cultured amniotic fluid and unincubated samples.
- To determine if ex vivo immune mediator production can predict spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB).
Main Methods:
- Amniotic fluid from 72 women was incubated ex vivo with or without lipopolysaccharide (LPS).
- Levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-10, and nitric oxide were measured.
- Comparison of mediator levels in cultured supernatants versus unincubated fluids and correlation with birth outcomes.
Main Results:
- Ex vivo culture increased IL-6, IL-10, and nitric oxide release, while decreasing IL-1ra.
- Women with SPTB showed decreased ex vivo IL-6 and increased IL-10 production compared to term delivery.
- Unincubated fluids showed elevated IL-1ra in women with SPTB, an association not seen with ex vivo culture.
Conclusions:
- Ex vivo amniotic fluid culture yields different immune mediator profiles than unincubated samples.
- Ex vivo immune mediator production may be a more sensitive indicator of the intraamniotic environment's immune potential.
- This approach may improve prediction of spontaneous preterm birth.
Abstract:
We hypothesized that ex vivo measurement of intraamniotic production of immune mediators differed from analysis of these mediators within unincubated amniotic fluid. Mid-trimester amniotic fluid from 72 women were incubated ex vivo with or without 50 ng/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Supernatants and the corresponding unincubated amniotic fluids were tested for interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-10 and nitric oxide. Ex vivo culture resulted in increased release of IL-6, IL-10 and nitric oxide; IL-1ra levels were decreased following the incubation. A spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) occurred in 12 (16.7%) of the subjects. Women with a subsequent SPTB had decreased IL-6 and increased IL-10 production following ex vivo culture compared to women with a term delivery. This association was not evident with unincubated amniotic fluids. Conversely, IL-1ra concentrations were elevated in women with subsequent SPTB only in unincubated amniotic fluids. Immune mediator production by ex vivo amniotic fluid culture differs from that present in amniotic fluid supernatants and may provide a more accurate indication of the immune potential of the intraamniotic environment.
