Interleukin-6 and insulin-like growth factor system relationships and differences in the human placenta and fetus from the 35th week of gestation

The integrity of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is essential for normal fetal growth. Cytokine and IGF–IGFBP relationships have been shown in specific tissues, but it is unknown whether these occur in the placenta. We aimed to assess possible differences in the IGF system depending on gestational age (GA) from week 35 to 40, and to study relationships of IL-6 with components of the IGF system in the placenta and newborn infant.We followed 32 normal births and collected whole villous tissue and cord serum. Total RNA was extracted from the placenta samples, reverse transcribed and then real-time quantitative (TaqMan) RT-PCR was performed to quantify cDNA for IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2 and IL-6. The corresponding proteins were assayed in placenta lysates and cord serum using specific commercial kits. Two groups of subjects (Group 1, 35–37 weeks GA, N = 12 and Group 2, 38–40 weeks GA, N = 20) were studied. In placenta, IGF-I mRNA was more abundant than IGF-II mRNA at all times and together with IGFBP-1mRNA were less expressed at term. IGFBP-2 and IL-6 mRNAs were higher after week 37 GA. IL-6 and IGFBP-2 gene expression were closely related. The corresponding proteins showed similar differences to the genes but IGF-I was undetectable in the lysates, whereas IGF-II was abundant. IGFBP-2 concentrations were very high and greater than those of IGFBP-1. In the newborn, no difference was seen in any cord serum protein after week 35 GA. IGFBP-1 was negatively correlated with parameters of neonatal size.In conclusion, this study reports new insights into IL-6, IGF–IGFBP relationships within the human placenta and shows the importance of comparing subjects with the same GA.