Interleukin-22: Biomarker of maternal and fetal inflammation?

Abstract

Histologic chorioamnionitis (HCA) is an intrauterine status of inflammation which may lead to the fetal inflammatory response syndrome. Inflammation is a pathogenetic mechanism also of preeclampsia, although not of microbial origin. The aim of the present pilot study was to evaluate the pattern of inflammatory cytokines in mothers and high-risk preterm infants during the perinatal period. Concentrations of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein were evaluated in maternal, cord, and neonatal blood of very preterm infants <1,500 g birth weight. Histologic examinations of placentae and umbilical cords were performed. The 65 mother-neonate pairs enrolled were subdivided into three groups: (1) HCA group (n = 15), (2) preeclampsia group (n = 17), and (3) control group, in the absence of HCA/preeclampsia (n = 33). Maternal Interleukin (IL)-6 levels were significantly higher in women of the HCA group compared with the preeclampsia and control groups (p < 0.05). IL-22 was detected in nearly all maternal samples [median value 693.115 pg/ml (599.91-809.91 pg/ml)], with no statistical difference between the groups, but with a tendency to increased levels among preeclamptic women. Increased concentrations of IL-22 were detected in cord blood of neonates exposed to preeclampsia, compared with controls and infants exposed to HCA (p < 0.05). We speculate that the tendentially higher concentrations of IL-22 in preeclamptic mothers and the significantly higher concentrations in cord blood may reflect placental dysfunction and the underlying reparative processes at the maternal-fetal interface. Therefore, IL-22 could be an important biomarker of inflammation in preeclampsia.

Synthetic PreImplantation Factor (PIF) prevents fetal loss by modulating LPS induced inflammatory response

“…Not surprisingly, synthetic PIF prevented the increase of those cytokines in the serum (Table 2) in line with natural killer cells being PIF`s target [23]. Finally, synthetic PIF modulated IL-22, a member of IL-10 family (Table 2) and increased IL-22 levels are an inflammatory marker of placental dysfunction and early pregnancy loss [56, 69]. …”

Early predictors of small‐for‐gestational‐age neonates using non‐invasive, low‐cost, and readily available hematological markers

“…5 The possible association between inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory biomarkers, leukocytosis, and perinatal outcomes was shown previously. 16,17 A strong association between NLR to other conditions of uteroplacental insufficiency such as pre-eclampsia was previously described. 10 As IUGR and SGA may be the result of such placental insufficiency, it is hypothesized that NLR may be a valuable index that can be used for early prediction of SGA and IUGR.…”

The role of interleukins in preeclampsia: A comprehensive review

“…Its signal transduction depends mainly on activation of the JAK/STAT pathway . In a pilot study by Bersani et al, IL‐22 levels were found significantly higher in the cord blood of neonates born from mothers with PE compared to controls.…”

“…Interleukin‐23 (IL‐23) is a type I heterodimeric cytokine, consisting of a 19‐kDa tetrahelical core a‐subunit (IL‐23p19) linked to IL‐12’s 40‐kDa subunit, namely IL‐12p40 . It is produced by macrophages, dendritic cells .…”