Decreased serum level of macrophage inflammatory chemokine-3 beta/CCL19 in preterm labor and delivery

Objective: Chemokines are small soluble molecules which mediate leukocyte migration and may be involved in the pathophysiology of preterm labor. We aimed to determine if serum concentrations of selected chemokines are changed in preterm labor and delivery. Study design: A novel array-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to quantitate serum levels of nine chemokines from a single sample: MDC/CCL22, TARC/CCL17, ITAC/CXCL11, 1-309/CCL1, IP-10/CXCL10, MIP-1 alpha/CCL3, -1 beta/CCL4, -3 alpha/CCL20 and -3 beta/CCL19. Women in preterm labor who delivered (n = 17), women at preterm pregnancy not in labor (n = 13) and women in labor at term (n = 8) participated. Results: In the preterm delivery group of patients, the MIP-3 beta/CCL19 concentration was in mean (+/- S.D.) 70.4 +/- 31.7 pg/mL, which was significantly lower than that in preterm gravidas not in labor of 123 +/- 34 pg/mL (p < 0.001) and those in labor at term of 118 +/- 25.6 pg/mL (p < 0.01). The other measured chemokines did not differ significantly. Conclusions: Of a small number of examined chemokines, we were able to show that one of them, MIP-3 beta/CCL19 was significantly lower in women with preterm labor and delivery. Whether or not this chemokine has a potential as biochemical marker of preterm delivery remains to be determined. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.