Upregulation of chemokine and cytokine production during pregnancy.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Following implantation, endometrial stroma is transformed into decidual tissue via a complex remodeling process. In parallel with that process, a significant increase in immune cells can be detected. Several studies suggest that chemokines and cytokines orchestrate the transformation of decidual tissue and the infiltration of leukocytes. In this study, we therefore compared chemokine and cytokine expression in the first- and third-trimester nonpregnant endometrium and decidua. METHODS: Investigation of the expression patterns of cytokines, chemokines and growth factors in endometrial tissue (after routine hysterectomy) and human decidual tissue (7-8 weeks of gestation and 38-40 weeks of gestation, respectively) was performed by protein array analysis. RESULTS: This analysis revealed a significant increase in monocyte-attracting chemokines (granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, growth-related oncogene, growth-related oncogene-alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein-2) , granulocyte-attracting chemokines (epithelial neutrophil activating peptide and interleukin 8) and proinflammatory factors (interleukin-1alpha, leptin) in decidual compared to endometrial tissue. Furthermore, concentrations of angiogenic substances (vascular endothelial growth factor and thrombopoietin) significantly peaked in first-trimester deciduas. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates increased expression of chemokines and cytokines in decidual tissue compared to nonpregnant endometrium.