THE EFFECTS OF INTERLEUKIN-1-ALPHA AND INTERLEUKIN-1-BETA ON PROSTAGLANDIN PRODUCTION BY CULTURED HUMAN FETAL MEMBRANES

The effects of IL-1alpha and IL-1beta on cultured human fetal membranes were studied. These cytokines are known to regulate prostaglandin synthesis by the separated components of the fetal membranes (amnion, chorion and decidua), but their effects on intact tissue are unknown. IL-1alpha increased PGE2 levels on the fetal side of the membrane, indicating increased production of prostaglandin from the amnion, but had little effect on levels of PGE2 on the maternal side of the membrane. Low levels of IL-1beta (0.1 - 1.0 ng/ml) increased PGE2 levels on the fetal side of the membrane, and also increased the production of PGE2 metabolites and PGF2alpha, suggesting that this cytokine stimulated the decidua as well as the amnion. High concentrations of both cytokines appeared able to stimulate prostaglandin production by the side of the membrane opposing that to which they were added, but it is not clear whether this was mediated by factors released by the stimulated membrane, or by direct transfer of small quantities of cytokines through the membrane. Taken together, these results indicate that IL-1beta was a potent stimulator of the synthesis of prostaglandins by decidua and by amnion, whereas IL-1alpha only stimulated the amnion.