ACTIONS OF INTERLEUKIN-4 ON PROSTAGLANDIN BIOSYNTHESIS AT THE CHORION-DECIDUAL INTERFACE

OBJECTIVE: We determined the effects of interleukin-4 on chorion and d ecidual prostaglandin production. STUDY DESIGN: Chorion and decidual c ells from term placentas were grown to confluence. Cells were then inc ubated with interleukin-4 either alone or with other known stimulants of prostaglandin production: interleukin-1beta, epidermal growth facto r, ionomycin, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Prostaglandin E2 pro duction was determined with a specific radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Inte rleukin-4 alone stimulated prostaglandin E2 production in chorion and decidual cells. Interleukin-4 significantly enhanced the stimulatory a ctions of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, ionomycin, and epidermal gr owth factor but not interleukin-1beta on prostaglandin E2 production. CONCLUSION: Interleukin-4 stimulates prostaglandin E2 production by ch orion and decidual cells. These data suggest that interleukin-4 produc tion by immune effector cells in gestational tissues may contribute to the pathophysiologic features of preterm labor.