The immune system is responsible for the development of a typical pregnancy, including the induction of labor.
Objectives: The aim of our study was to determine the concentration of maternal serum Th1 and Th2 cytokines, which have opposite biological effects, in preterm and term labor.
Material and methods: 88 patients were divided into four groups: normal pregnancy (n = 20), threatened preterm labor (n = 22), preterm delivery (n = 24) and term delivery (n = 22). Maternal serum interleukins 1, 6, 8 and 10 were measured with ELISA R&D Systems kits (USA). In all patients CRP was estimated and the blood specimen were analyzed using an automated hematology cell analyzer.
Results: Women in term and preterm delivery group had significantly higher mean IL-beta, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations than patients in normal pregnancy and these with threatened preterm labor. In addition, the highest WBC and CRP concentration were found in women in preterm delivery compared with other groups.
Conclusions: Maternal serum Th1 cytokines concentrations increase in preterm and term delivery. Determination of maternal serum IL-6, IL-8 and IL-10 may play an essential role in estimations of the preterm labor risk.