@Article{,
AUTHOR = {Leea Keski-Nisula, Maija-Riitta Hirvonen, Marjut Roponen, Seppo Heinonen, Juha Pekkanen},
TITLE = {Spontaneous and stimulated interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production at delivery and three months after birth},
JOURNAL = {European Cytokine Network},
VOLUME = {15},
YEAR = {2004},
NUMBER = {1},
PAGES = {67--72},
URL = {http://www.techscience.com/ECN/v15n1/66504},
ISSN = {1952-4005},
ABSTRACT = {Objective. To study the production and interrelations of maternal and neonatal cytokines (IL-6 and
TNF-alpha) during labor, after vaginal delivery and at three months after delivery. Method. The unstimulated
concentrations of cytokines in the supernatants of whole-blood cultures and concentrations after PMA (phorbol
12-myristate 13-acetate) and concanavalin (conA) stimulation were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent
assays (ELISAs). The blood samples were from the peripheral veins of 27 healthy women during term labor and
immediately after delivery and three months after delivery. Neonatal samples were taken at birth (cord blood) and
three months after delivery. Results. IL-6 responses to stimulation were increased in the parturients and in
umbilical cord blood at delivery compared with maternal and neonatal samples obtained 3 months postpartum.
In contrast, the production of maternal TNF-alpha in peripheral blood was down- regulated at delivery compared
with values 3 months postpartum. After an IL-6 and TNF-alpha burst in umbilical cord samples, neonatal
cytokine production was at a low level three months after delivery. IL-6 production tended to be higher in both
umbilical cord blood as well as in maternal samples after delivery in women who were younger. In addition,
TNF-alpha production in umbilical cord blood was significantly higher in those women who were younger.
Conclusions. The production of IL-6 was up- regulated in both the maternal and in umbilical cord blood at
delivery. The production of TNF-alpha was up- regulated in umbilical cord blood compared with neonatal values
3 months after birth. Maternal age had effects on IL-6 and TNF-alpha production at delivery.},
DOI = {}
}