The effect of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 on chorioamnion secretion of prostaglandins (PG)F2α and E2 in pigs

SUMMARYThe aim of the present study was to determine the effect of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on prostaglandin (PG)F2α and PGE2 secretion as well as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression in chorioamnion collected on days 25, 30 and 40 of pregnancy in pigs. Fetal membrane slices were incubated for 16 h with TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 (1 or 10 ng/ml of medium) or two combinations of the three cytokines (1 or 10 ng/ml of each cytokine per combination). We demonstrated the stimulatory effect of TNF-α, IL-1β and/or IL-6 on PGF2α and PGE2 secretion by the porcine fetal membranes. The medium content of these PGs depended on the cytokine type, treatment dose and day of pregnancy. Cytokine stimulation of PGE2 was more pronounced than that of PGF2α. In addition, an increase in PGF2α and/or PGE2 secretion was usually associated with an augmentation of COX-2 protein expression. Our results support the notion concerning the possible role of cytokines in modulating production of PGs by fetal membranes during the first trimester of gestation.