Cytokines up in pregnant smokers.(Obstetrics)

SAN DIEGO -- A study of cervical anti-inflammatory cytokine concentrations has found that cigarette smoking during pregnancy may weaken the innate immune defense of the lower genital tract, Dr. Hyagriv Simhan reported at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society for Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The finding "may have an important impact on the host response to immune challenges," said Dr. Simhan, with the department of ob.gyn. and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh.

In an ongoing cohort study, 103 pregnant women without bacterial vaginosis or sexually transmitted diseases underwent pelvic exam for collection of vaginal swabs for Gram staining and cervical swabs for STDs and interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, and IL-13 at 4-16 weeks' gestation.

In theory, elevated levels of these three cytokines "could pose a risk for the acquisition or severity of infectious diseases," Dr. Simhan explained. "All three inhibit the ability of the neutrophil to kill bacteria. All three inhibit the ability of proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-[alpha] and IL-1[beta] to induce bacterial killing and proinflammatory immune response."

He and his associates ...