Interleukin-8 levels and granulocyte counts in cervical mucus during pregnancy

PROBLEM: We measured interleukin-8 (IL-8) and granulocyte counts in cervica l mucus to assess local immunity and parturition. METHOD OF STUDY: We detected IL-8 by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELI SA) and Western blotting. Granulocytes were counted on a slide glass contai ning mucus from the external cervical os. RESULTS: ELISA and Western blotting revealed IL-S in cervical mucus from bo th nonpregnant and pregnant women. There were no significant differences in cervical mucus IL-8 levels or granulocyte counts between follicular, ovula tory, and luteal phases. However, IL-8 and granulocyte counts were signific antly decreased after menopause. IL-8 and granulocyte counts were increased significantly during pregnancy, and were further increased after 38 weeks of gestation and at labor. IL-8 levels were significantly correlated with g ranulocyte counts, based on the study of 678 samples (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: IL-8 is involved in the increase of cervical granulocytes and i n the process of parturition.