Interleukin-8 stimulates placental prostacyclin production in preeclampsia

PROBLEM: Our purpose was to determine placental interleukin (IL)-8 producti on and its correlation with the prostacyclin production in normal and preec lamptic pregnancies and to evaluate the beneficial effect of IL-8 on prosta cyclin production. METHOD OF STUDY: We determined 1) the in vitro production of IL-8 and prost acyclin by placental villous tissues from normal and preeclamptic pregnanci es and 2) the production of prostacyclin by villous tissues from preeclamps ia treated with recombinant human IL-8 (rhIL-8). IL-8 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and prostacyclin by radioimmunoassay o f 6-keto PGF1 alpha, the stable metabolite of prostacyclin. RESULTS: 1) Placental production of IL-8 and 6-keto PGF1 alpha were signifi cantly less in preeclampsia than in normal pregnancies, P < 0.05. 2) Placen tal production of 6-keto PGF1 alpha and IL-8 was significantly correlated i n preeclampsia, P < 0.01. 3) Placental tissues treated with IL-8 exhibited a concentration-dependent increase in 6-keto PGF1 alpha production. CONCLUSIONS: Placental tissues from preeclampsia produce significantly less IL-S than tissues from normal pregnancies, which correlates with decreased prostacyclin production. IL-8 improves placental prostacyclin production i n preeclampsia.