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Monocyte Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Expression in Term and Preterm Labor

From the ¹Institute for Women’s Health, and ²Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate how term and preterm labor (PTL) influence the balance between maternal proinflammatory and antiinflammatory responses as measured by expression of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class II on maternal monocytes and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) production by in vitro stimulation of whole blood by lipopolysaccharide (LPS).

METHODS: Blood was taken from the following women (n=118): term elective cesarean delivery or in spontaneous labor, in premature labor, or with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) at less than 32 weeks, and gestation-matched reference group. Monocyte MHC Class II expression was measured by flow cytometry using a dual-staining technique. Plasma cytokine levels were assayed using a cytometric bead array system. In vitro whole blood stimulation with LPS was also performed, and cytokine production was measured.

RESULTS: Term labor was associated with a fall in the percentage of monocytes expressing MHC Class II, compared with third trimester of pregnancy, P<.05 and a reduction in LPS-stimulated TNF- production. This fall in MHC Class II was even more pronounced in PTL and preterm PROM groups compared with the reference group, P<.01.

CONCLUSION: There was evidence of reduced expression of monocyte MHC Class II and LPS-stimulated TNF- in term and preterm labor. This pattern of reduced MHC Class II expression and reduced TNF- production is known as monocyte hyporesponsiveness or immune paresis. Detection of this state may provide insights into the maternal inflammatory status and be of use in the management of women with threatened PTL or preterm PROM.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II