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Interleukin-22: Biomarker of maternal and fetal inflammation?

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Surgical Neonatology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Iliana Bersani

  2. Division of Neonatology, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito, 1, 00168, Rome, Italy

    Maria Pia De Carolis, Serena Antonia Rubortone & Costantino Romagnoli

  3. Department of Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, University Children’s Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany

    Dirk Foell & Toni Weinhage

  4. Division of Anatomic Pathology and Histology, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Esther Diana Rossi

  5. Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, A. Gemelli Hospital, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

    Sara De Carolis

  6. University Children’s Hospital, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Christian Paul Speer

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  1. Iliana Bersani
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  2. Maria Pia De Carolis
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  5. Esther Diana Rossi
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  6. Sara De Carolis
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  7. Serena Antonia Rubortone
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  8. Costantino Romagnoli
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  9. Christian Paul Speer
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Correspondence to Maria Pia De Carolis.

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Iliana Bersani and Maria Pia De Carolis are co-authors.

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Bersani, I., De Carolis, M.P., Foell, D. et al. Interleukin-22: Biomarker of maternal and fetal inflammation?. Immunol Res 61, 4–10 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-014-8568-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12026-014-8568-2

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