Adaptive immune responses during murine pregnancy: pregnancy-induced regulation of lymphokine production by activated T lymphocytes
Article Abstract:
Lymphokine production by activated T lymphocytes, or cells of the immune system, may change during pregnancy. Lymphokines are a group of substances that mediate immune responses. A study examined the production of lymphokines by activated T lymphocytes in pregnant mice during different stages of pregnancy. Production of interleukin-2 by activated splenocytes dropped significantly. Activated splenocyte production of interleukin-4, interleukin-6 and interleukin-3 increased significantly as pregnancy progressed. Production of interferon-gamma and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor by splenocytes was highest during the initial eight to 14 days of pregnancy. Antibody production may increase and cytotoxic cell immune responses may decrease during pregnancy.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1993
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Bacterial lipopolysaccharide-mediated murine fetal death: the role of interleukin-1
Article Abstract:
Interleukin-1 may play an important role in fetal death caused by bacterial infection. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is an inflammatory protein of the immune system. Researchers injected pregnant mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to mimic bacterial infection. Mice were killed three days later and their fetuses were examined. Mice that were treated with anti-IL-1 antibodies before LPS injection had a significantly lower rate of fetal deaths. IL-1 did not seem to induce fetal death by increasing prostaglandin production. Blocking the effects of IL-1 in the presence of infection may make antibiotic therapy more effective.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1997
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Regulation of decidual cell chemokine production by group B streptococci and purified bacterial cell wall components
Article Abstract:
Uterine lining cells present during pregnancy called decidual cells may play a role in the infection fighting process leading to some women's early labors. Production of inflammatory proteins, including interleukin-8 and macrophage inflammatory protein-1-alpha, was measured after decidual cells were mixed with various group B streptococci and compounds found in bacterial cell walls. Inflammatory protein production increased significantly in response to the infectious cells and to the cell wall compounds.
Publication Name: American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0002-9378
Year: 1997
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