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The Association of Circulatory Cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10) Level with Spontaneous Abortion—a Preliminary Observation

  • Reproductive Biology: Original Article
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Abstract

Successful pregnancy or its outcome depends upon various endogenous and exogenous determinants including immune status, and cytokines are one of the regulators which might play a vital role in the maintenance of pregnancy. The study was carried out to determine the role of cytokines, i.e., interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), in spontaneous abortion (SAb) cases with reference to control (women without SAb). One hundred twenty-six subjects (63 women with SAb cases and 63 control women without SAb and bearing at least one child) were enrolled. Out of the 63 SAb cases, 31 women from Outpatient Department (with history of SAb cases, i.e., one, two, or more) and 32 from the Gynecology ward (current SAb cases) were enrolled. The cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10) were measured by ELISA method using commercially available kit. The mean IL-6 level was higher among women with SAb cases, recent SAb and recurrent SAb cases versus controls, history of SAb and less than 2 SAb cases respectively, while an inverse pattern of variations was observed for IL-10 level. The Spearman’s correlation revealed that the IL-6 was positively correlated while IL-10 was negatively correlated with number of incidences of SAbs. The data of women with recent SAb and childbirth were categorized into four IL quartiles and found that the highest % of control and lowest % of SAb subjects were in second quartile of IL-6 while highest % of control and lowest % of SAb subjects were in the fourth (high) quartile of IL-10 level group. A multiple regression model showed that with elevation in IL-6, there was an elevation in number of SAb cases and an inverse relationship was observed with regard to IL-10. The results indicate positive role of IL-10 and undesirable role of IL-6 on pregnancy outcomes. Further, quartiles’ distribution suggests that high levels of IL-10 might be necessary for the effective pregnancy outcome, but more data are needed to substantiate the present findings.

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Abbreviations

IL-6:

interleukin-6

IL-10:

interleukin-10

SAb:

spontaneous abortion

Pg:

picogram

ml:

milliliter

n:

number

yr:

year

kg:

kilogram

m2 :

meter squared

%:

percentage

Q1:

quartile first

Q2:

quartile second

Q3:

quartile third

Q4:

quartile Fourth

CRP:

C-reactive protein

URSA:

unexplained recurrent spontaneous abortion

BMI:

body mass index

RSA/ RSAb:

recurrent spontaneous abortion

MDA:

malondialdehyde

ELISA:

enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

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Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the participants for cooperation. The authors are also thankful to NIOH for providing the initial intramural support to the study.

Funding

Initial intramural support from NIOH and later RT received Senior Research Fellowship from ICMR.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Reproductive and Cyto-toxicology, National Institute of Occupational Health (ICMR), Ahmedabad, 380016, India

    Riddhi Thaker, Vinita Verma, Mansi Gor & Sunil Kumar

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad, 380016, India

    Hina Oza

  3. Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, 380009, India

    Mansi Gor

  4. A-10, Radhey Kunj Apartment, Shahi Baugh, Ahmedabad, 380004, India

    Sunil Kumar

Authors
  1. Riddhi Thaker
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  2. Hina Oza
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  3. Vinita Verma
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  4. Mansi Gor
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  5. Sunil Kumar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sunil Kumar.

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An ethical approval of the study was acquired from the institutional ethical committee of National Institute of Occupational Health, Ahmedabad, India. An informed consent was attained from each participant, after explaining the objectives as well as benefits of the study, at the time of questionnaire interview of the participants.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Thaker, R., Oza, H., Verma, V. et al. The Association of Circulatory Cytokines (IL-6 and IL-10) Level with Spontaneous Abortion—a Preliminary Observation. Reprod. Sci. 28, 857–864 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-020-00292-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s43032-020-00292-6

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