Monocytes are primed to produce the Th1 type cytokine IL-12 in normal human pregnancy: an intracellular flow cytometric analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Clin Exp Immunol. 2003 Mar;131(3):490-7. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2249.2003.02082.x.

Abstract

This paper considers both monocytes and peripheral blood lymphocytes as potential targets for maternal immunological modulation in pregnancy. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from non-pregnant and normal pregnant donors were stimulated in vitro, and cytokine production detected intracellularly by flow cytometry. It was found that monocyte production of TNF-alpha was unaltered in pregnancy, while production of IL-12 was significantly enhanced. In contrast, production of the Th1 type cytokine IFN-gamma was suppressed in the lymphocyte subsets: CD4+ T helper cells and CD56+ NK cells. Production of the Th2 type cytokine IL-4 in CD4+ cells was not significantly altered in pregnancy. These data suggest that the concept that pregnancy is a 'Th2 phenomenon' cannot be generalized to the function of all aspects of maternal cellular immunity as, paradoxically, circulating monocytes are 'primed' to produce the Th1 cytokine IL-12. Furthermore, these data support the hypothesis that components of maternal innate immunity are activated in normal pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Comment
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Female
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis
  • Interleukin-12 / biosynthesis*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Monocytes / immunology*
  • Pregnancy / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer / immunology
  • Th1 Cells / immunology*
  • Th2 Cells / immunology
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / biosynthesis

Substances

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Interleukin-12
  • Interferon-gamma