Localization of pro‐inflammatory (IL‐12, IL‐15) and anti‐inflammatory (IL‐11, IL‐13) cytokines at the foetomaternal interface during murine pregnancy

• Published in: Clinical and experimental immunology Vol. 126; no. 3; pp. 519 - 528
• Main Authors: Zourbas, S., Dubanchet, S., Martal, J., Chaouat, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Science Ltd 01-12-2001; Blackwell; Oxford University Press; Wiley; Blackwell Science Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Cytokines - metabolism; decidua; Decidua - immunology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Immunohistochemistry; Immunology of Reproduction; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Interleukin-11 - metabolism; Interleukin-12 - metabolism; Interleukin-13 - metabolism; Interleukin-15 - metabolism; interleukins; Life Sciences; Maternal-Fetal Exchange - immunology; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Mice, Inbred CBA; Mother. Fetoplacental unit. Mammary gland. Milk; placenta; Placenta - immunology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy. Parturition. Lactation; Th1‐Th2; Time Factors; Uterus - immunology; Vertebrates: reproduction; Immunohistochemistry; Immune response; Cytokine; Rodentia; Interleukin 11; Interleukin 12; Immune regulation; Interleukin 13; Decidua; Interleukin 15; Gestational age; Pregnancy; Vertebrata; Fetomaternal; Mammalia; Placenta; Mouse; Animal; Interface; IMMUNOLOGIE
• ISSN: 0009-9104; 1365-2249
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2001.01607.x

The involvement of some interleukins (ILs) in early and established pregnancy has been convincingly demonstrated, but little is known about the potential role of the more recently discovered ones. However, since many of these have positive or negative regulatory effects on both NK and T cells, it is highly probable that they also have regulatory functions in both implantation and placental development. Therefore, as a first step in tackling this problem, we have investigated whether several recently described pro‐ (IL‐12, IL‐15) and anti‐inflammatory (IL‐11, IL‐13) cytokines were expressed at the uteroplacental interface by use of immunohistochemistry at different stages of gestation in mice.
Each of these molecules was found at the foetomaternal interface, with specific distributions and patterns of expression depending on both the cytokine itself and the stage of pregnancy. The significance of these data is discussed.