Register for Pro-inflammatory cytokines may modulate maternal plasma leptin levels
ObstetricsJuly 29, 2004
2004 JUL 29 - (NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net) -- Data reported by researchers in Japan suggest that pro-inflammatory cytokines may modulate concentration of maternal plasma leptin by stimulating placental leptin secretion.
In a paper in Endocrine Journal M.A. Nuamah and colleagues at Kyoto University wrote: "Maternal plasma leptin concentration is significantly increased during pregnancy. However, its roles in pregnancy, especially in labor, have not been fully clarified.
"We measured plasma leptin concentrations in pregnant women during the course of induced labor, just after spontaneous vaginal delivery and cesarean section at term. We also studied the regulation of leptin secretion from term placental tissue and BeWo cells, a trophoblastic cell-line," they said (Significant increase in maternal plasma leptin concentration in induced delivery: A possible contribution of pro-inflammatory cytokines to placental leptin secretion. Endocr J, 2004;51(2):177-187).
"Plasma leptin concentrations increased significantly during labor (58.9 ± 9.2 ng/ml) compared to those before labor induction (37.5 ± 5.8 ng/ml, p<0.05), then decreased 3-6 days postpartum (14 3 ng/ml, n=6, p<0.0001) to the levels of normal nonpregnant women," Nuamah and team reported.
They also found that "[l]eptin concentrations within an hour and 24 hours after spontaneous vaginal delivery were significantly higher than those after cesarean section (p<0.05 for both comparisons). Similarly, leptin mRNA expression in placental tissues obtained after spontaneous vaginal delivery was significantly greater than that in those obtained after cesarean section without labor (p<0.05)."
In explant culture of human term placental tissue and in BeWo cells, treatment with interleukin-1alpha and tumor necrosis factor alpha significantly stimulated both leptin secretion and leptin mRNA expression as compared with controls (p<0.05 for all comparisons), the researchers said. But treatment with oxytocin and prostaglandin F had no effect on leptin secretion on either the tissue or cell cultures.
Nuamah and colleagues concluded that their "data indicate that pro-inflammatory cytokines might stimulate placental leptin secretion, thus finally contributing to the increase in plasma leptin concentration during labor."
For additional information, contact N. Sagawa, Kyoto University, Graduate School of Medicine, Dept. of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Sakyo Ku, 54 Shogoin Kawahara Cho, Kyoto 6068507, Japan.
The publisher's contact information for the Endocrine Journal is: Japan Endocrine Society, C, O Dept. of Veterinary Physiol, Vet. Med Science, University Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113, Japan.
The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of Obstetrics, Endocrinology, Labor and Delivery. This article was prepared by Women's Health Weekly editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2004, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net.
©Copyright 2004, Women's Health Weekly via NewsRx.com & NewsRx.net
