Steroid Hormones, TH1/TH2 Cytokines and Reproductive Status
Study Details
Study Description
Brief Summary
This study is designed to evaluate blood Th1 and Th2 immunoregulatory cytokine production and hormonal levels associated with the third trimester of pregnancy and the postpartum state. Cytokine and hormone levels will be assessed in blood specimens obtained from healthy pregnant and postpartum females and compared to levels from premenopausal non-pregnant and non-postpartum females. Blood samples obtained at 30-36 weeks of gestation and 2-6 weeks postpartum will be the primary study points. Samples will also be obtained from pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant, non-postpartum, premenopausal female patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Additional data will be generated from samples from normal males, which will be compared with data from females.
We expect to find that pregnancy is associated with enhanced Th2 cytokine expression and that the postpartum state is associated with enhanced Th1 cytokine expression. We expect to see differences in cytokine expression between males and females as well. We seek to gather data supporting the view that distinct hormonal environments regulate these contrasting immunological states.
Condition or Disease | Intervention/Treatment | Phase |
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Detailed Description
This study is designed to evaluate blood Th1 and Th2 immunoregulatory cytokine production and hormonal levels associated with the third trimester of pregnancy and the postpartum state. Cytokine and hormone levels will be assessed in blood specimens obtained from healthy pregnant and postpartum females and compared to levels from premenopausal non-pregnant and non-postpartum females. Blood samples obtained at 30-36 weeks of gestation and 2-6 weeks postpartum will be the primary study points. Samples will also be obtained from pregnant, postpartum, and non-pregnant, non-postpartum, premenopausal female patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Additional data will be generated from samples from normal males, which will be compared with data from females.
We expect to find that pregnancy is associated with enhanced Th2 cytokine expression and that the postpartum state is associated with enhanced Th1 cytokine expression. We expect to see differences in cytokine expression between males and females as well. We seek to gather data supporting the view that distinct hormonal environments regulate these contrasting immunological states.
Study Design
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcome Measures
Eligibility Criteria
Criteria
No current medications or hormone therapy within the last 3 months.
Contacts and Locations
Locations
Site | City | State | Country | Postal Code | |
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1 | National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) | Bethesda | Maryland | United States | 20892 |
Sponsors and Collaborators
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Investigators
None specified.Study Documents (Full-Text)
None provided.More Information
Publications
- Bell SC, Billington WD. Major anti-paternal alloantibody induced by murine pregnancy is non-complement-fixing IgG1. Nature. 1980 Nov 27;288(5789):387-8.
- Cadet P, Rady PL, Tyring SK, Yandell RB, Hughes TK. Interleukin-10 messenger ribonucleic acid in human placenta: implications of a role for interleukin-10 in fetal allograft protection. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1995 Jul;173(1):25-9.
- 940196
- 94-AR-0196