Changes in the Th1 : Th2 Cytokine Bias in Pregnancy and the Effects of the Anti-Inflammatory Cyclopentenone Prostaglandin 15-Deoxy--Prostaglandin
Figure 1
Th1 and Th2 cytokine production in peripheral T cells from nonpregnant and pregnant women. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated and stimulated with PMA/ionomycin. The percentage of CD4+/IFN-γ +, CD4+/TNF-α +, and CRTH2+/IL-4 positive cells were detected by flow cytometry in samples derived from nonpregnant (NP), 28-week pregnant, term no labour (TNL), and term labour (TL) samples (a), (c), and (e). A reduction in the percentage of peripheral CD4 positive cells secreting the Th1 cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α was observed, whereas the percentage of cells secreting the Th2 cytokine, IL-4, remained consistent throughout gestation. Mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) was also assessed as a measure of total cytokine production (b), (d), and (f). PMA/ionomycin stimulation induced both Th1 and Th2 cytokine production in all sample groups compared to NL controls. No differences in gestation-dependent responses were detected. (g) a ratio of IFN-γ : IL-4 revealed a decrease in the Th1 : Th2 ratio during pregnancy, which was increased prior to the onset of labour. For statistical analysis ANOVA with Dunnett’s multiple comparison test with NP as a control was used; ** and *.
