Baseline TNFα operational capacity in fetal and maternal circulation prior to the onset of labor: "tuned for different purposes"

Jacobo L. Santolaya, Lindsay Kugler, Lissa Francois, Valeria Di Stefano, Gary A. Ebert, Roman Wolf, Bingbing Wang, Joaquín Santolaya-Forgas

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: In this study, we sought to characterize the tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) baseline operational capacity in mature fetuses and their mothers prior to the onset of labor. Materials and Methods: We used an experimental pregnant nonhuman primate model to measure the plasma concentration of TNFα, TNF transmembrane receptor I (TNFRI), and TNFRII with validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Coefficients of correlations between the maternal and the fetal values and the soluble TNFα, TNFRI, or TNFRII concentrations and ratios were calculated. Results: The TNFα/TNFRI ratio was 3 times lower in fetal circulation than in maternal circulation. No correlations were noted between the maternal and the fetal TNFα, TNFRI, or TNFRII plasma concentrations. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the fetal and maternal baseline circulatory operational capacities of TNFα are independent of each other and tuned differently. This differential regulation of TNFα in fetal and maternal circulation at the end of pregnancy may be guided to protect the fetus from the systemic inflammatory response that is essential for the mechanisms of labor to proceed in the mother.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)838-844
Number of pages7
JournalReproductive Sciences
Volume20
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • TNFα
  • TNFα receptors
  • baboon
  • fetal inflammatory response syndrome
  • sTNFRI
  • sTNFRII
  • sepsis
  • tumor necrosis factor α

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology

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