Abstract
Cachectin-tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) has been implicated as a possible signal for the initiation of human parturition in the setting of infection. These studies were conducted to determine whether human decidua can produce TNF-α in response to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Decidual explants from women undergoing elective cesarean sections were incubated with and without Escherichia coli LPS (25 ng/ml) for 20 h. TNF-α concentration in the conditioned media was measured with an enzyme-linked immunoassay and bioassay (L929 bioassay). While conditioned media from unstimulated decidual explants contained either undetectable or low levels of TNF-α, conditioned media from LPS stimulated decidua contained TNF-α (mean = 2.6 pmol/mg protein per 20 hours, SEM ± 1.03). There was a strong correlation between the immunoreactive and bioactive TNF-α (Spearman rank correlation r = 0.76, P < 0.001). We conclude that human decidua in vitro can produce TNF-α in response to LPS.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 123-127 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | European Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 13 Sep 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:Supported by grants from the Walter Scott Foundation for Medical Research,R .R. is a recipient of a Physician Scientist Award from the National Instituteso f Health.
Keywords
- Cachectin-tumor necrosis factor
- Chorioamnionitis
- Decidua
- Intra-uterine infection
- Prematurity
- Preterm labor
- endotoxin