Cl. Elliott et al., REGULATION OF INTERLEUKIN-8 PRODUCTION IN THE TERM HUMAN PLACENTA DURING LABOR AND BY ANTIGESTAGENS, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 179(1), 1998, pp. 215-220
OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the effects of labor and antigest
agens on production of interleukin 8 by the term human placenta and to
localize interleukin 8 in first- and third- trimester placentas. STUD
Y DESIGN: The study was conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology of the University of Edinburgh. Five placentas were collec
ted after spontaneous and cesarean deliveries. Explants were cultured
in the presence of mifepristone, lilopristone, or onapristone. The pro
duction of interleukin 8 was determined by specific radioimmunoassay,
and the immunolocalization of interleukin 8 was determined in sections
of first- and third-trimester placentas. RESULTS: All explants produc
ed interleukin 8. Production was significantly increased (P<.05) after
spontaneous delivery. In placentas delivered spontaneously, onapristo
ne significantly increased production of interleukin 8 (P<.05), wherea
s in those from cesarean deliveries lilopristone caused a significant
increase in production (P<.05). In the third-trimester placenta interl
eukin 8 was localized in the perivascular area of fetal vessels. In fi
rst-trimester villi it was peripherally located in syncytiotrophoblast
. CONCLUSION: The human placenta at term is capable of producing inter
leukin 8, which is localized around the perivascular area of the villi
. Production is increased after spontaneous labor and to varying degre
es by the antigestagens studied. Interleukin 8 may have a role in the
onset of parturition by recruiting and activating neutrophils at the p
lacental site.