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Interleukin‐8 Levels and Granulocyte Counts in Cervical Mucus During Pregnancy
Author(s) -
LUO LIHUA,
IBARAGI TAMOTSU,
MAEDA MAKIKO,
NOZAWA MASAYUKI,
KASAHARA TADASHI,
SAKAI MASATOSHI,
SASAKI YASUSHI,
TANEBE KYOKO,
SAITO SHIGERU
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
american journal of reproductive immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.071
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1600-0897
pISSN - 1046-7408
DOI - 10.1111/j.8755-8920.2000.430203.x
Subject(s) - granulocyte , mucus , cervical mucus , gestation , pregnancy , luteal phase , medicine , andrology , endocrinology , follicular phase , immunology , biology , cervix , ecology , genetics , cancer
PROBLEM: We measured interleukin‐8 (IL‐8) and granulocyte counts in cervical mucus to assess local immunity and parturition. METHOD OF STUDY: We detected IL‐8 by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blotting. Granulocytes were counted on a slide glass containing mucus from the external cervical os. RESULTS: ELISA and Western blotting revealed IL‐8 in cervical mucus from both nonpregnant and pregnant women. There were no significant differences in cervical mucus IL‐8 levels or granulocyte counts between follicular, ovulatory, and luteal phases. However, IL‐8 and granulocyte counts were significantly decreased after menopause. IL‐8 and granulocyte counts were increased significantly during pregnancy, and were further increased after 38 weeks of gestation and at labor. IL‐8 levels were significantly correlated with granulocyte counts, based on the study of 678 samples ( P <0.0001). CONCLUSION: IL‐8 is involved in the increase of cervical granulocytes and in the process of parturition.