Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2003 Aug;46(8):1500-1509.

The Modulation of IL-12 by Phosphodiesterase IV Inhibitor and Subsequent Changes of Th-1, Th-2 Cytokines in Human Endometrial Tissue

• Park WI
• Kim EK
• Ko DS
• Hong SY
• Na JY
• Shin JH
• Kim DW

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To assess the capability of phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitor (rolipram) to suppress IL-12 in human decidua and the subsequent changes of Th-2 cytokine (IL-10) and Th-1 cytokine (TNF-alpha).
METHODS
Decidual tissues of 10 first-trimester pregnant women and 10 first-trimester pregnant women diagnosed as missed abortion were collected by dilatation and currettage. The decidual tissues were treated with rolipram for 6 hours. Protein and mRNA expression in the tissues were analysed by western blotting, immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.
RESULTS
Rolipram, in the concentration above 1 microgram/ml, could decrease the expression of IL-12p35 (control: 46.37+/-7.38, rolipram: 24.34+/-8.46) and IL-12p40 mRNA (control: 31.7+/-5.8, rolipram: 14.9+/-4.6) and protein (control: 52.4+/-8.9, rolipram: 40.9+/-12.1). However, the expression of IL-10 and TNF-alpha mRNA and protein did not changed by rolipram. There was no difference in the cytokine expression pattern between the decidual tissues of normal pregnancy and missed abortion.
CONCLUSION
Rolipram, the phosphodiesterase type IV inhibitor, could induce the decrease of IL-12 in human decidua. In human decidual tissue, unlike other human tissues, the decrease of IL-12 by rolipram did not modulate other Th-1/Th-2 cytokines. Inability of IL-12 to modulate other Th-1/Th-2 cytokines might be related with unique cytokine network in human decidua rather than its small extent of decrease.

Keyword

Rolipram; Decidua; IL-12; Th1 cytokine; Th2 cytokine

MeSH Terms

Abortion, Missed
Blotting, Western
Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4*
Cytokines*
Decidua
Dilatation
Female
Humans*
Immunohistochemistry
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-12 Subunit p35
Interleukin-12 Subunit p40
Interleukin-12*
Pregnancy
Pregnant Women
RNA, Messenger
Rolipram
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 4
Cytokines
Interleukin-10
Interleukin-12
Interleukin-12 Subunit p35
Interleukin-12 Subunit p40
RNA, Messenger
Rolipram
Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha