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. 2012 Jul;32(7):483-90.
doi: 10.1038/jp.2011.193. Epub 2012 Mar 29.

Second trimester maternal plasma levels of cytokines IL-1Ra, Il-6 and IL-10 and preterm birth

R J Ruiz  1 , N Jallo, C Murphey, C N Marti, E Godbold, R H Pickler
Affiliations

Second trimester maternal plasma levels of cytokines IL-1Ra, Il-6 and IL-10 and preterm birth

R J Ruiz et al. J Perinatol. 2012 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To examine the interaction of the cytokines interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL)-1Ra, IL-6 and IL-10 to predict preterm birth (PTB) in pregnant Hispanic women (n=470).

Study design: In this prospective study, demographic data were obtained prenatally and birth outcome data were obtained from the medical chart. Cytokines were measured from plasma obtained at 22 to 24 weeks gestation. Data analysis utilized logistic regression.

Result: PTB was predicted by level of IL-1Ra (odds ratio (OR)=2.55; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.24, 5.24). The interaction between IL-1Ra and IL-6 and between IL-1Ra and IL-10 was significant (Wald=4.01, P=0.04 and Wald=8.84, P<0.003, respectively) and was also predictive of PTB. As IL-1Ra levels increased while IL-10 levels were low, the probability of PTB greatly increased.

Conclusion: The interactions of select cytokines and cytokine receptor antagonists were associated with PTB. Future research should focus on the changes in cytokines during pregnancy to identify critical periods of change, and examine predictors of the cytokine response.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Predicted probabilities of preterm birth as a function of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and IL-6. Predicted results in the figure are based on a model in which we dichotomized IL-6, to estimate the standard error of the difference for points on a continuous variable. IL-6 was dichotomized at the 80th percentile, which was representative of the point on the IL-6 continuum where significant differences emerged. Predicted probabilities are generated from the logistic regression model. Error bars represent half of a confidence interval (CI) on each line so that non-overlapping bars represent significant differences.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Predicted probabilities of preterm birth as a function of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and IL-10. Predicted probabilities are generated from the logistic regression model. Error bars represent half of a confidence interval (CI) on each line so that non-overlapping bars represent significant differences.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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