INFLAMMATORY CYTOKINE (INTERLEUKIN-1, INTERLEUKIN-6, AND INTERLEUKIN-8 AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA) RELEASE FROM CULTURED HUMAN FETAL MEMBRANES IN RESPONSE TO ENDOTOXIC LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE MIRRORS AMNIOTIC-FLUID CONCENTRATIONS

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to quantitate and compare the amou nt of cytokines released from human fetal membranes in response to tre atment with bacterial lipopolysaccharide and to compare this with amni otic fluid levels. STUDY DESIGN: Amniochorionic membranes were collect ed from women undergoing elective repeat cesarean section and showing no signs of infection- or pregnancy-related complications. Membranes w ere maintained in an organ explant system and stimulated with bacteria l lipopolysaccharide for 24 hours. Media samples were collected and st ored at -20 degrees C until cytokine levels were assayed by enzyme-lin ked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay re sults demonstrated that lipopolysaccharide stimulated production of in terleukins 1, 6, and 8 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha by the fetal me mbranes in comparison with the control cultures. A greater release of interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 compared with interleukin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha was noticed. The relationships between cytokine concentrations observed in culture mirror those seen in amniotic fluid . CONCLUSION: Amniochorionic membranes can respond to an infectious pr ocess with increased secretion of interleukins 1, 6, and 8 and tumor n ecrosis factor-alpha. Cytokines produced from both amnion and chorion (interleukin-6 and interleukin-8) are released in greater quantities t han those cytokines produced from chorion or amnion alone (interleukin -1 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). These studies support a major rol e for amnion in infection-induced preterm labor.