Predominant Production of Amniotic Interleukin‐1α in Cases With Premature Rupture of the Membranes

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Abstract
The physiological significances of the two known subtypes of interleukin-1 (IL-1) in amniotic fluid (AF) were examined by measurements of their concentrations and detection of their location. Each IL-1 subtype in AF collected from 61 patients were examined by newly developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay with high sensitivity. Placenta and umbilical cord from 17 patients were examined immunohistochemically for localization of IL-1. Different types of IL-1 were predominant in AF; the mean (+/- SE) concentration of IL-1 beta (412.8 +/- 105.4 pg/ml) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of IL-1 alpha (116.4 +/- 26.7 pg/ml) in cases with spontaneous vaginal delivery, whereas the concentration of IL-1 alpha (243.1 +/- 81.4 pg/ml) was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than that of IL-1 beta (139.7 +/- 59.4 pg/ml) in cases with premature rupture of the membranes (PROM) without intrauterine infection. In these cases, immunohistochemical studies revealed the presence of IL-1 alpha in the trophoblastic layer of the placenta and epithelium of the umbilical cord. Amniotic IL-1 alpha was detected predominantly in cases with PROM, and it is thought to be produced in placenta and fetal skin keratinocyte.