EN
The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-lß (IL-lß) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) on prostaglandin (PG)F2α and PGE2 secretion as well as on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression in maternal placenta collected on days 25, 30 and 40 of pregnancy in pigs. Maternal placental slices were incubated for 16 h with TNF-α, IL-lß and IL-6 and (1 or 10 ng/ml of medium) or two combinations of the three cytokines (1 or 10 ng/ml of each cytokine per combination). We demonstrated the stimulatory effect of TNF-α, IL-lß and IL-6 and on PGF2α and PGE2 secretion by the porcine maternal placenta. The medium content of these PGs depended on the cytokine type, its concentration and day of pregnancy. Cytokine stimulation of PGE2 was more pronounced than that of PGF2α. Additionally, an increase in PGF2 and/or PGE2 secretion was usually associated with the augmentation of COX-2 protein expression. Our study shows that TNF-α, IL-lß and IL-6 increase production of PGF2α and PGE2 by porcine maternal placenta from 25, 30 and 40 day of pregnancy. These results further confirm the possible role of cytokines in modulating secretion of PGs by maternal placenta during the first trimester of gestation.