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Interleukin-8 appears to play a role in labor. This immune system protein is produced by many cells and attracts and activates white blood cells called neutrophils. Researchers tested placentas taken from five pregnant women after childbirth for the presence of interleukin-8. It was found in all samples. The production of interleukin-8 by the placental samples was increased by chemicals that inhibit progesterone. Neutrophils are known to secrete an enzyme called collagenase, which breaks down collagen and leads to softening of the cervix.

Byline: Catherine L. Elliott, Rodney W. Kelly, Hilary O.D. Critchley, Simon C. Riley, Andrew A. Calder Keywords: Interleukin 8; placenta; labor; cytokines Abstract: OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the effects of labor and antigestagens on production of interleukin 8 by the term human placenta and to localize interleukin 8 in first- and third- trimester placentas. STUDY DESIGN: The study was conducted by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the University of Edinburgh. Five placentas were collected after spontaneous and cesarean deliveries. Explants were cultured in the presence of mifepristone, lilopristone, or onapristone. The production of interleukin 8 was determined by specific radioimmunoassay, and the immunolocalization of interleukin 8 was determined in sections of first- and third-trimester placentas. RESULTS: All explants produced interleukin 8. Production was significantly increased (P < .05) after spontaneous delivery. In placentas delivered spontaneously, onapristone significantly increased production of interleukin 8 (P < .05), whereas in those from cesarean deliveries lilopristone caused a significant increase in production (P < .05). In the third-trimester placenta interleukin 8 was localized in the perivascular area of fetal vessels. In first-trimester villi it was peripherally located in syncytiotrophoblast. CONCLUSION: The human placenta at term is capable of producing interleukin 8, which is localized around the perivascular area of the villi. Production is increased after spontaneous labor and to varying degrees by the antigestagens studied. Interleukin 8 may have a role in the onset of parturition by recruiting and activating neutrophils at the placental site. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;179:215-20.) Author Affiliation: Edinburgh, United Kingdom Article History: Received 1 April 1997; Revised 24 July 1997; Accepted 31 December 1997 Article Note: (footnote) [star] From the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologya and the Medical Research Council Reproductive Biology Unit,b Centre for Reproductive Biology, University of Edinburgh., [star][star] Reprint requests: C.L. Elliott, MB, ChB, Registrar, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, Goldhawk Rd, London, United Kingdom W6 0XG., a 0002-9378/98 $5.00 + 0 6/1/88529

To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajog.2006.10.908 Byline: Sarah J. Stock (1), Rodney W. Kelly (2), Simon C. Riley (1), Andrew A. Calder (1) Keywords: amnion; defensin; infection; natural antimicrobial; pregnancy Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the expression of natural antimicrobials in primary cultured amnion epithelial cells and to examine their regulation by interleukin-1 beta (IL-1[beta]). Author Affiliation: (1) Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Edinburgh, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK (2) Medical Research Council Human Reproductive Sciences Unit, Centre for Reproductive Biology, Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, UK. Article History: Received 27 June 2006; Accepted 27 October 2006 Article Note: (footnote) Supported by The Jennifer Brown Research Fund, administered by UK Charity PiggyBankKids, Registration Number 1092312., Cite this article as: Stock SJ, Kelly RW, Riley SC, Calder AA. Natural antimicrobial production by the amnion. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2007;196:255.e1-255.e6.