Objective: 

In our study, our aim was to show the relationship between IL-10, IL-4, IL-12 cytokines and progesterone (PRG) changes in each trimester of pregnancy including early postpartum of healthy pregnant women.

Methods: 

A checkup, including ultrasound, to verify healthiness was performed to each subject at the University of Istanbul, Cerrahpasa Gynecology. 1) Control group (midluteolitic phase, 21st day) (n=20); 2) Pregnant group (1st trimester, 10–12 weeks) (n=30). Normal pregnant women were followed in each trimester of pregnancy until the end of the first month of postpartum. Blood samples were obtained at the 21st day of midluteolitic phase from the control group and in 12, 24, 30 weeks and 4th weeks of postpartum from pregnant women. The flow cytometric method was used for determining the relative levels of cytokine molecule IL-2. ELISA was used for obtaining levels of IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 cytokines and PRG in plasma.

Results: 

Comparing with the control group, we obtained significant increases in IL-2, IL-4, IL-12 and IL-10 in the first trimester. IL-2 decreased significantly, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12 increased significantly in the 2nd trimester; and in the mid-3rd trimester the most significant increase was seen in IL-4, IL-2, IL-10, IL-12. Starting from midluteal phase E2, PRG levels increased in the 3rd trimester of the pregnancy, and also it was seen at the similar level in the third trimester of postpartum.This supression was connected by PRG.

Conclusions: 

These data suggest that IL-10 may act as a key contributor to the balance of pro-inflammatory versus anti-inflammatory signals that orchestrate proper pregnancy outcomes.