Human Reproduction, Vol. 18, No. 6, 1173-1178,
June 2003
© 2003 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Cytokine production by peripheral blood monocytes during the normal human ovulatory menstrual cycle
1 Department of Biomedical Sciences at Cumberland Campus, Sydney University, NSW, 2141 and Departments of 2 Renal Medicine and 4 Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and 3 Kolling Institute of Medical Research, Sydney University at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia
5 To whom correspondence should be addressed at: Department of Renal Medicine, Sydney University at Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, NSW 2065, Australia. e-mail: eileeng{at}med.usyd.edu.au
BACKGROUND: There is considerable evidence that hormone-driven changes resembling an inflammatory response occur in the vascular compartment during the menstrual cycle, and peripheral blood monocytes may be central in the process. We investigated whether there is a cyclical change in intrinsic production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes in the ovulatory menstrual cycle, and whether there is a circulating factor that influences the pattern of cytokine production in a cyclical manner. METHODS: Monocytes were purified by density-gradient centrifugation followed by countercurrent centrifugal elutriation, from the blood of normal women (n = 10) pre- and post-ovulation. Monocytes were cultured under basal conditions with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and to determine the effects of circulating factors, incubations were also conducted in the presence of autologous serum. Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1
, IL-1
, IL-6, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)- and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) were measured by sandwich ELISA. RESULTS: The majority of IL-1 and IL-1 was cell associated, while the other cytokines were almost entirely secreted. Basal levels of IL-1, IL-1, and TNF- were significantly increased following ovulation, while there was no significant change in levels of secretion of IL-6 or IL-1Ra. These effects were present in unstimulated cells, suggesting prior activation in vivo. Cytokine production was increased in response to LPS; however, there was no consistent effect of autologous serum. CONCLUSIONS: Intrinsic production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by monocytes is increased following ovulation.
Key words: cytokine/human/monocyte/ovulation
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  A. De Lorenzo, V. Del Gobbo, M. G. Premrov, M. Bigioni, F. Galvano, and L. Di Renzo Normal-weight obese syndrome: early inflammation? Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, January 1, 2007; 85(1): 40 - 45. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 A. J. Yun and P. Y. Lee Enhanced Fertility After Diagnostic Hysterosalpingography Using Oil-Based Contrast Agents May Be Attributable to Immunomodulation Am. J. Roentgenol., December 1, 2004; 183(6): 1725 - 1727. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 P. H. Connolly, V. J. Caiozzo, F. Zaldivar, D. Nemet, J. Larson, S.-p. Hung, J. D. Heck, G. W. Hatfield, and D. M. Cooper Effects of exercise on gene expression in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2004; 97(4): 1461 - 1469. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|