IL-10: a potential marker for endometrial receptivity and pregnancy complications
Boryana Petkova (BG), Kameliya Vinketova (BG), Emilia Alova (BG), Polya Mincheva (BG), Vladimir Jekov (BG), Iliya Karagyozov (BG), Milena Mourdjeva (BG), Tsvetelina Oreshkova (BG)
[Petkova] Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, [Vinketova ] Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction , [Alova] MHAT “Tokuda Hospital Sofia” , [Mincheva] MHAT “Tokuda Hospital Sofia” , [ Jekov] MHAT “Tokuda Hospital Sofia” , [Karagyozov] MHAT “Tokuda Hospital Sofia” , [Mourdjeva ] Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction , [ Oreshkova] Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction
Context During pregnancy, a state of immune tolerance toward the fetus is established. Deviations from this immune homeostasis can lead to pregnancy complications. IL-10 is an immunomodulatory cytokine which abnormal levels are associated with pathologies like endometriosis, preeclampsia and pregnancy loss. Objective To evaluate IL-10 as a prognostic marker for endometrial receptivity and pregnancy complications. Methods IL-10 levels in blood plasma and cell-culture medium of in vitro decidualized stromal cells were measured by ELISA. Patient(s) Blood plasma samples from 21 non-pregnant, 45 pregnant and 25 women on detection of miscarriage were collected. Stromal cells from 8 elective and 7 spontaneous abortion decidual samples were isolated. Intervention(s) Blood plasma samples were collected. Decidual stromal cells were treated with progesterone, β-estradiol and cAMP to induce decidualization. Main Outcome Measure(s) IL-10 concentration was measured. Result(s) Highest IL-10 levels in the course of decidualization were detected at day 6, followed by decrease. IL-10 secretion rates were greater in stromal cells from uncomplicated pregnancy (elective abortion) than in the cells from missed abortion. Lower, compared to non-pregnant controls, IL-10 plasma levels were detected in the third trimester of pregnancy and before delivery. Some miscarriage cases showed IL-10 levels up to five times higher than the mean value of the control group. Conclusions The observed temporal changes in IL-10 secretion during decidualization suggest importance of this immunomodulatory cytokine for endometrial receptivity. Together with the changes in IL-10 plasma concentration throughout pregnancy and in case of miscarriage, these results demonstrate that IL-10 could be considered as a potential predictive marker for endometrial receptivity and pregnancy complications.