American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 193, Issue 6 , Pages 1999-2003, December 2005

Cervical anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations among first-trimester pregnant smokers

  • Hyagriv N. Simhan, MD, MSCR

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
    • Division of Reproductive Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
  • ,
  • Steve N. Caritis, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
  • ,
  • Sharon L. Hillier, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Reproductive Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA
  • ,
  • Marijane A. Krohn, PhD

      Affiliations

    • Division of Reproductive Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA

Received 4 February 2005; received in revised form 1 April 2005; accepted 25 April 2005.

Objective

Anti-inflammatory cytokines play a role in the lower genital tract immune defense. We examined the impact of cigarette smoking in pregnancy on the detection of the 3 most important anti-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-4, -10, and -13) in the cervix.

Study design

One hundred fourteen gravid women from 4 to 16 weeks of gestation without bacterial vaginosis or sexually transmitted disease were queried regarding demographic factors and smoking. Concentrations of cytokines were determined with a multiplex assay for cervical swabs.

Results

There was a positive linear relationship between the number of cigarettes that were smoked per day and cervical concentrations of interleukin-4, -10, and -13 (P < .001 for each). Median concentrations of interleukin-4 and -10 were greater among women who smoked ≥20 cigarettes per day than among non-smokers or less heavy smokers (P < .05 for both). There was no difference in concentrations of proinflammatory cytokines between smokers and non-smokers.

Conclusion

Cigarette smoking in pregnancy is associated with an increase of cervical anti-inflammatory cytokines without a commensurate increase of proinflammatory cytokines. This may have important impact on the host response to infection.

Key words: Smoking, Anti-inflammatory cytokine, Cervix, Pregnancy, Inflammation

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 Supported by National Institute of Child Health and Human Development grants 1 R01 HD41663-01A1 and MO1-RR000056.Presented in part at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology, San Diego, CA, August 5-7, 2004.Reprints not available from the authors.

PII: S0002-9378(05)00641-1

doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2005.04.054

American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology
Volume 193, Issue 6 , Pages 1999-2003, December 2005