Macrophage inflammatory protein-I alpha regulates prostaglandin E2 and interleukin-6 production by human gestational tissues in vitro.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the inflammatory cytokine macrophage inflammatory protein-1 alpha (MLP-1 alpha) stimulates the production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by human gestational tissues.

METHODS

Human decidual cells, chorion cells, and amnion cells were isolated from term placentas of women with normal pregnancies, and primary cultures of each cell line were established. In various concentrations, MIP-1 alpha was then applied to each cell culture for 16 hours at 37C, and culture supernatants were assayed for PGE2 and IL-6.

RESULTS

After incubation with MIP-1 alpha, decidual cells produced increased amounts of both IL-6 (P < .05) but not PGE2. When subjected to similar conditions, chorion cells produced increased amounts of both IL-6 and PGE2 (P < .05). Conversely, amnion cells produced increased amounts of only PGE2 in response to increasing concentrations of MIP-1 alpha (P < .05).

CONCLUSION

Maternal and fetal gestational tissues differentially respond to MIP-1 alpha with regard to PGE2 and IL-6 production; MIP-1 alpha may play a role in both the initiation and propagation of the inflammatory response associated with intrauterine infection.