Ash. Kent et al., EFFECTS OF INTERLEUKIN-6 AND TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA ON PROSTAGLANDIN PRODUCTION BY CULTURED HUMAN FETAL MEMBRANES, Prostaglandins, 46(4), 1993, pp. 351-359
In this study we investigated the effects of the cytokines interleukin
-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on prostaglandin
production by cultured human fetal membranes. These cytokines stimula
te prostaglandin synthesis by isolated components of human fetal membr
anes, but their effects on the intact tissue comprising amnion, chorio
n and decidua were not known. TNF-alpha added to the maternal side of
the membrane activated decidual production of PGF2alpha but had no eff
ects on synthesis of PGE2 or PGE2 metabolites. Addition of TNF-alpha t
o the fetal side of the membrane increased production of PGE2 by amnio
n and PGE2 metabolites from chorion. The addition of IL-6 to the fetal
or the maternal side of the membrane increased production of PGE2 fro
m amnion and PGE2m from chorion, suggesting that IL-6 might pass throu
gh the fetal membrane. IL-6 had no effect on decidual PGF2alpha produc
tion. These results suggest that TNF-alpha may be involved in labor by
increasing decidual prostaglandin synthesis, whereas IL-6 is less lik
ely to have a role.