Vaginal progesterone, but not 17?-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, has antiinflammatory effects at the murine maternal-fetal interface - 02/12/15
, Olesya Plazyo, MSc a, Ronald Unkel, BSc a, Yi Xu, PhD a, Sonia S. Hassan, MD a, b, Piya Chaemsaithong, MD a, b, Arushi Mahajan, MS b, Nardhy Gomez-Lopez, MSc, PhD a, b, c, ⁎ Abstract |
Objective |
Progestogen (vaginal progesterone or 17-alpha-hydroxyprogesterone caproate [17OHP-C]) administration to patients at risk for preterm delivery is widely used for the prevention of preterm birth (PTB). The mechanisms by which these agents prevent PTB are poorly understood. Progestogens have immunomodulatory functions; therefore, we investigated the local effects of vaginal progesterone and 17OHP-C on adaptive and innate immune cells implicated in the process of parturition.
Study Design |
Pregnant C57BL/6 mice received vaginal progesterone (1 mg per 200 μL, n = 10) or Replens (control, 200 μL, n = 10) from 13 to 17 days postcoitum (dpc) or were subcutaneously injected with 17OHP-C (2 mg per 100 μL, n = 10) or castor oil (control, 100 μL, n = 10) on 13, 15, and 17 dpc. Decidual and myometrial leukocytes were isolated prior to term delivery (18.5 dpc) for immunophenotyping by flow cytometry. Cervical tissue samples were collected to determine matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 activity by in situ zymography and visualization of collagen content by Masson’s trichrome staining. Plasma concentrations of progesterone, estradiol, and cytokines (interferon [IFN]γ, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p70, keratinocyte-activated chemokine/growth-related oncogene, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Pregnant mice pretreated with vaginal progesterone or Replens were injected with 10 μg of an endotoxin on 16.5 dpc (n = 10 each) and monitored via infrared camera until delivery to determine the effect of vaginal progesterone on the rate of PTB.
Results |
The following results were found: (1) vaginal progesterone, but not 17OHP-C, increased the proportion of decidual CD4+ regulatory T cells; (2) vaginal progesterone, but not 17OHP-C, decreased the proportion of decidual CD8+CD25+Foxp3+ T cells and macrophages; (3) vaginal progesterone did not result in M1→M2 macrophage polarization but reduced the proportion of myometrial IFNγ+ neutrophils and cervical active MMP-9-positive neutrophils and monocytes; (4) 17OHP-C did not reduce the proportion of myometrial IFNγ+ neutrophils; however, it increased the abundance of cervical active MMP-9-positive neutrophils and monocytes; (5) vaginal progesterone immune effects were associated with reduced systemic concentrations of IL-1β but not with alterations in progesterone or estradiol concentrations; and (6) vaginal progesterone pretreatment protected against endotoxin-induced PTB (effect size 50%, P = 0.011).
Conclusion |
Vaginal progesterone, but not 17OHP-C, has local antiinflammatory effects at the maternal-fetal interface and the cervix and protects against endotoxin-induced PTB.
Le texte complet de cet article est disponible en PDF.Key words : decidua, endotoxin, interleukin-1β, macrophages, matrix metalloproteinase-9, myometrium, neutrophils, preterm birth, preterm labor, regulatory T cells
Plan
| This study was supported by the Wayne State University Perinatal Initiative in Maternal, Perinatal, and Child Health and by the Perinatology Research Branch, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services. |
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| The authors report no conflicts of interest. |
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| Dr Romero has contributed to this work as part of his official duties as an employee of the United States Government. |
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| Procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee at Wayne State University (protocol A09-08-12). |
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| Cite this article as: Furcron A-E, Romero R, Plazyo O, et al. Vaginal progesterone, but not 17α-hydroxyprogesterone caproate, has antiinflammatory effects at the murine maternal-fetal interface. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2015;213:846.e1-19. |
Vol 213 - N° 6
P. 846.e1-846.e19 - décembre 2015 Retour au numéro
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