Second Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Wroclaw Medical University, Poland.
Adv Clin Exp Med. 2013 Sep-Oct;22(5):699-703.
Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a glycoprotein produced by macrophages. IL-18 influences different populations of T lymphocytes and NK cells and stimulates the production of INF-gamma by these cells. IL-18 induces both Th1 and Th2 response. That is why IL-18 is a unique cytokine.
The aim of work was to examine the concentration of interleukin 18 in amniotic fluid in the 2nd and the 3rd trimesters of physiological pregnancies.
74 pregnant women were qualified to take part in the studies. The amniotic fluid samples by amniocentesis were taken from the patients. Two groups were distinguished among the examined patients: group I - 45 pregnant women qualified for genetic amniocentesis between the 15th and 19th week of pregnancy. All findings of the cytogenetic tests were normal. Group II: 29 pregnant women in their 3rd trimester were qualified for diagnostic amniocentesis in order to determine the biological maturity of the fetuses. The concentration of IL-18 was marked with the immunoenzymatic method ELISA with the use of the kit produced by the MBL company. Method sensitivity was < 12.5 pg/mL.
In the 2nd trimester of pregnancy the average concentration of IL-18 in the amniotic fluid was 454.69 pg/mL and in the 3rd trimester was 71.73 pg/mL. The obtained data proved that the average concentration of IL-18 in the 2nd trimester was significantly higher than in the 3rd trimester. The obtained differences in the findings were statistically significant (p < 0.05).
The presence and high levels of IL-18 in the amniotic fluid in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy indicate an early process of initiation of immunological mechanisms by the fetus. An average concentration of IL-18 in the amniotic fluid was significantly higher in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy than in the 3rd trimester, which may indicate the influential role of IL-18 on the development of the immune response in the fetus in this period of gestation.
白细胞介素 18（IL-18）是一种由巨噬细胞产生的糖蛋白。IL-18 影响不同群体的 T 淋巴细胞和 NK 细胞，并刺激这些细胞产生 INF-γ。IL-18 诱导 Th1 和 Th2 反应。这就是为什么 IL-18 是一种独特的细胞因子。
本工作旨在研究生理妊娠第 2 至 3 个孕期羊水中白细胞介素 18 的浓度。
74 名孕妇符合参加研究的条件。通过羊膜穿刺术采集患者的羊水样本。在检查的患者中区分了两组：第 I 组-45 名孕妇在妊娠 15 至 19 周期间接受了遗传羊膜穿刺术。所有细胞遗传学检查结果均正常。第 II 组：29 名孕妇在妊娠晚期接受诊断性羊膜穿刺术，以确定胎儿的生物成熟度。IL-18 浓度用免疫酶法 ELISA 标记，使用 MBL 公司生产的试剂盒。方法灵敏度<12.5pg/mL。
妊娠中期羊水中 IL-18 的平均浓度为 454.69pg/mL，妊娠晚期为 71.73pg/mL。所得数据表明，妊娠中期 IL-18 的平均浓度明显高于妊娠晚期。所得结果差异有统计学意义（p<0.05）。
妊娠中期羊水中 IL-18 的存在和高水平表明胎儿早期启动免疫机制。妊娠中期羊水中 IL-18 的平均浓度明显高于妊娠晚期，这可能表明 IL-18 对胎儿在此妊娠期间免疫反应发展的影响作用。
