INTRODUCTION

Maternal-fetal immune crosstalk mechanisms are increasingly identified in the pathogenesis of gestational disorders, including histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA). Although an inflammatory Th17 immune phenotype has been described in preterm neonates with HCA, the associated maternal Th17 response is relatively unknown. To refine our understanding of Th17 biology in this context, we examined Th17 responses in maternal-cord blood dyads of preterm gestations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Paired maternal and cord blood (CB) samples were prospectively collected from preterm gestations (23-34 weeks) with HCA or controls. Th17-linked cell frequencies and plasma calgranulin (S100A8, S100A12) levels were determined by flow cytometry and enzyme-linked immunoassay, respectively.

RESULTS

Analyses of 47 maternal-cord blood pairs showed striking parallel increases in Th17 cell frequencies as well as plasma calgranulin levels in the presence of fetal inflammation. Cord blood S100A12 levels were directly correlated with Th17 cell frequencies. In CB cultures, rh-S100A12 promoted propagation of Th17-type CD4 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

Maternal and CB Th17-linked responses are dually amplified in gestations with HCA, supporting a biological role for maternal-fetal interactions in this disorder. In addition to advancing current knowledge of neonatal Th17 mechanisms, these data shed new light on their association with maternal inflammation.