Analysis of cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β and nitric oxide in amniotic fluid and serum of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis in southern Brazil

This study detected and compared the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β and nitric oxide (NO) in amniotic fluid (AF) and serum of pregnancies with acute toxoplasmosis, Southern Brazil. It also was compared the levels of the same mediators in the serum of pregnancies in acute and chronic toxoplasmosis with non-infected. Serological investigation, anti-T gondii IgM and IgG, of the 67 pregnancies was determined by Elisa MEIA. Forty two were uninfected, eight in chronic phase and 17 in acute phase. Among the acute phase, seven agreed to amniocentesis. The cytokines, in serum and in AF, were assessed by sandwich ELISA, and NO was estimated from the nitrite measurement with Griess reagent. The IFN-γ and TGF-β levels in the AF and blood were similar, while TNF-α levels was lower in the AF. On the other hand, NO was higher in the AF. Chronically infected pregnant women have showed lower levels of INF-γ than those in acute and uninfected pregnancies. The serological levels of TNF-α were lower in pregnancies with toxoplasmosis, when compared with non-infected. TGF-β levels were higher in pregnancies in acute phase when compared with uninfected or chronically infected. NO in the serum of the infected had lower levels than those non-infected. In summary, higher concentrations of NO and lower levels of TNF-α were observed in the AF than in the serum of acute pregnancies, while TGF-β e INF-γ levels were similar in both biological material. In the serum of infected pregnancies was observed decrease in inflammatory mediators and increase of TGF-β.