Human mid-gestation amniotic fluid contains interleukin-16 bioactivity
Human mid-gestation amniotic fluid contains interleukin-16 bioactivity
CD4-positive cells are detectable in the human fetal gastrointestinal tract from 11 weeks of gestation. Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a chemoattractant for CD4(+) cells and, via fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid, could mediate the influx of CD4(+) cells into the fetal gut. We have shown that IL-16 was detectable in human amniotic fluid at 16-18 weeks of gestation (mid-pregnancy) but was not detectable at term (late pregnancy; > 37 weeks of gestation). Similarly, mid-pregnancy, but not late pregnancy, amniotic fluid contained chemotactic activity for CD4(+) T cells, this activity was reduced by 58% in the presence of a neutralizing anti-IL-16 antibody. The levels of IL-16 in fetal plasma at 16-24 weeks of gestation were very high, and decreased significantly by 25-36 weeks but at > 37 weeks remained significantly higher than adult levels. IL-16 transcripts were detectable in whole tissue extracts of fetal gut, skin and placenta but not in amniocytes, and IL-16 immunoreactivity was detectable in cells within the lamina propria of the fetal gut and within the skin, where it was associated with the basement membrane. Neither IL-16 levels nor chemotactic activity for CD4(+) T cells in mid-pregnancy amniotic fluid was related to atopic outcomes at 1 year of age. IL-16 might have an important role in the early development of the human immune system and/or in regulating fetal and maternal immunological responsiveness during pregnancy.
amniotic fluid, atopy, chemotaxis, interleukin-16, pregnancy
543-551
Thornton, Catherine A.
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Holloway, Judith A.
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Shute, Janis K.
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Holloway, John W.
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Diaper, Norma D.
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Warner, John O.
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April 2009
Thornton, Catherine A.
cff89e57-48ce-4457-93ed-8a2ba8a999cb
Holloway, Judith A.
f22f45f3-6fc8-4a4c-bc6c-24add507037c
Shute, Janis K.
a5eef853-50ae-4abf-9e34-1c873601437f
Holloway, John W.
4bbd77e6-c095-445d-a36b-a50a72f6fe1a
Diaper, Norma D.
133a4395-dfd0-4119-81d8-11ed01886184
Warner, John O.
50630e99-8486-4859-ade3-cd2c79c5a153
Thornton, Catherine A., Holloway, Judith A., Shute, Janis K., Holloway, John W., Diaper, Norma D. and Warner, John O.
(2009)
Human mid-gestation amniotic fluid contains interleukin-16 bioactivity.
Immunology, 126 (4), .
(doi:10.1111/j.1365-2567.2008.02903.x).
(PMID:19278422)
Abstract
CD4-positive cells are detectable in the human fetal gastrointestinal tract from 11 weeks of gestation. Interleukin-16 (IL-16) is a chemoattractant for CD4(+) cells and, via fetal swallowing of amniotic fluid, could mediate the influx of CD4(+) cells into the fetal gut. We have shown that IL-16 was detectable in human amniotic fluid at 16-18 weeks of gestation (mid-pregnancy) but was not detectable at term (late pregnancy; > 37 weeks of gestation). Similarly, mid-pregnancy, but not late pregnancy, amniotic fluid contained chemotactic activity for CD4(+) T cells, this activity was reduced by 58% in the presence of a neutralizing anti-IL-16 antibody. The levels of IL-16 in fetal plasma at 16-24 weeks of gestation were very high, and decreased significantly by 25-36 weeks but at > 37 weeks remained significantly higher than adult levels. IL-16 transcripts were detectable in whole tissue extracts of fetal gut, skin and placenta but not in amniocytes, and IL-16 immunoreactivity was detectable in cells within the lamina propria of the fetal gut and within the skin, where it was associated with the basement membrane. Neither IL-16 levels nor chemotactic activity for CD4(+) T cells in mid-pregnancy amniotic fluid was related to atopic outcomes at 1 year of age. IL-16 might have an important role in the early development of the human immune system and/or in regulating fetal and maternal immunological responsiveness during pregnancy.
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Published date: April 2009
Keywords:
amniotic fluid, atopy, chemotaxis, interleukin-16, pregnancy
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Local EPrints ID: 72879
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/72879
ISSN: 0019-2805
PURE UUID: 14d22a7b-a70c-412c-94e1-72b43030ab7b
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Date deposited: 24 Feb 2010
Last modified: 14 Mar 2024 02:44
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Contributors
Author:
Catherine A. Thornton
Author:
Janis K. Shute
Author:
Norma D. Diaper
Author:
John O. Warner
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